East Sussex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in North Chailey, East Sussex
We take a careful look at the flat roof at your property in North Chailey, with photographs and a written report.
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
How a flat roof survey works in North Chailey
A Basic Survey, from £150, covers a visual inspection, a condition report, photos and written recommendations. The Standard Survey, from £250, adds moisture detection and a structural check. Moisture readings are useful on flat roofs, where water can spread under the covering before it shows inside. Larger commercial roofs are quoted for their size. Common reasons to book are failed seals around rooflight kerbs and signs of deflection in the roof deck, across felt flat roofs, single-ply membranes and GRP fibreglass.
Older buildings in small places like North Chailey may be listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. If you are planning work, check with the council first. Finding out what state the roof is in gives you the facts to plan with. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Where
- North Chailey (BN8)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about flat roof surveys in North Chailey
Is North Chailey in the area you cover?
Yes, North Chailey is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and South East England. Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in North Chailey?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
What’s the best way to book?
It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Give us the address and some details about the roof, and we will take it from there. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we don’t carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
How soon will I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. Mention any deadline when you book.
Do you look for flat roof leaks?
Our survey looks across the whole roof, not only above the stain. Every split, lap, upstand, outlet and rooflight we can see is checked. Where nothing visible explains the leak, the report says what to try next.
Do you check flat roofs for asbestos?
Asbestos testing isn’t part of our survey. If we see materials that could contain it, like cement sheets on a building from before 2000, we flag them so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check them.
Different roofs, different checks
Single-ply membranes
Many offices, units and newer flats have a single-ply PVC or TPO roof. The survey looks at welded seams, edges, fixings and signs of damage.
Mastic asphalt
Mastic asphalt is a heavy, seamless covering often found on older blocks, balconies and commercial roofs. We look for crazing, cracks, blisters and splits at the skirtings.
Can I check my roof myself?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
What this survey can’t tell you
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- A promise that the roof will not leak in future
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
- Testing older roof sheets for asbestos
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What we look at
- Felt flat roofs
- Upstands and outlets
- EPDM rubber
- Mastic asphalt
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
Surveys for landlords and agents in North Chailey
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, and the report can go to both. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
Useful tips for North Chailey property owners
You do not need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Check that new brackets or units haven’t damaged the covering
- Look for standing water a day after rain
- Book a survey every few years
- Clear roof outlets and gutters each autumn
You can use the report to ask roofers to quote for the same work. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare. It’s your choice who carries out the work and when.
Try not to let a flat roof become a walkway. If access is needed, boards or walkways help protect the covering, and remind them never to step on rooflights or fragile sheets.
Towns and villages near North Chailey
Also in North Chailey
What a flat roof survey looks like in North Chailey
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs, and the county’s older buildings include oast houses and Wealden hall houses. Next to the main roofs there is normally a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit. There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. If your home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission, so the council is the place to ask.
For an older house near a landmark like Church of Our Lady, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking. Landlords with a home close to Plumpton station may find that a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak. Anyone responsible for a site like Chailey Heritage School will know that large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
North Chailey is about 4 miles south-east of Haywards Heath, in East Sussex. We provide flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in North Chailey and nearby. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex, large and small. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the BN8 postcode area for flat roof surveys. We offer flat roof surveys to properties on Station Road, Downs View and Downs View Close. With the A275 close by, North Chailey is simple for us to get to for flat roof surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Chailey (1 mile south), Newick (1 mile east), South Street (2 miles south), Founthill (2 miles east) and Scaynes Hill (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Seaford (15 miles south), Lewes (7 miles south), Hailsham (14 miles south-east), Crowborough (10 miles north-east), Uckfield (5 miles east) and Newhaven (13 miles south).
Landmarks near North Chailey
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Chailey St Peter's Church of England Primary School and Chailey School, among other places. The closest station to North Chailey is Plumpton station, roughly 3.6 miles south-west. Nearby you’ll also find Heaven Farm Museum (3.4 miles north) and Waterbury Castle (4.7 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Ashenground and Bolnore Woods.
What happens on the day
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes about one to two hours for most houses; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. Around North Chailey, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You send us the address and, for commercial roofs, an idea of the roof’s size.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where there is access.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, without walking on fragile surfaces.
- We record every defect with a photo and its likely cause.
- You get a report setting out the condition and our recommendations, in order of urgency.
Preparing for the visit
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Arrange a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.