West Sussex · London and the South East
Old Shoreham Flat Roof Survey
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings for Old Shoreham, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
Flat roof survey in Old Shoreham: what you get
Buying a home with a flat-roofed extension, dormer or garage? It’s useful to know that roof’s condition before you exchange. Many felt roofs need renewing after around 15 to 20 years, and EPDM and GRP often go on for longer. We set out the type of covering, its condition and the defects we found, with a photo of every defect. You then have something specific to put to the seller or agent. We survey single-ply membranes, GRP fibreglass and upstands and outlets, and people most frequently book us about dips that suggest the deck is deflecting and splits and cracks in the covering.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Old Shoreham take more wind and rain, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Older felt roofs, frequently around 15–20 years in life, show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. Exposed edges are usually the first part of a flat roof to go.
After the visit, you get a photo-illustrated written report, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the flat roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- Old Shoreham (BN43)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
When we arrive, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you’d like to know. After that, we look at everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where it applies. Most surveys take about one to two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. In a small place like Old Shoreham, access is normally the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- First we go through the roof, what’s beneath it and any problems so far.
- We look at the roof from ground level, windows and the roof where it’s safe.
- The covering is checked for wear, splits, blisters and standing water.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- A written report with photos and recommendations is emailed to you.
Before we arrive
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Let us know about parking before the day
Getting a price
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form, let us know about the property and we will point you to the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Do you need a flat roof survey in Old Shoreham?
Many flat roof problems start at the details rather than the main surface. Upstands, trims, outlets and rooflight kerbs each move and weather in their own way. Where they weren’t finished well, they tend to fail before anything else.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
For landlords with property near Shoreham-By-Sea station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Keep clear of rooflights and fragile roof sheets
- Clear roof outlets and gutters each autumn
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
- Watch the ceilings below the flat roof for stains
You get the report by email and can pass it to a roofer, your solicitor, the seller or your managing agent. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo, so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Keep outlets, gutters and hoppers clear, especially after the leaves fall. Water that can drain away does far less harm than water that sits.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Old Shoreham
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.
Nearby places to Old Shoreham
Other services in Old Shoreham
Flat roof surveys in Old Shoreham: local notes
Old Shoreham lies within about 1 mile of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. The wider area around Old Shoreham has a long history of building, with Portslade Manor about 3.1 miles east. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Take a building like Swiss Gardens Primary School: schools and public buildings frequently have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks. Take an older house close to St Nicolas' Church: the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Old Shoreham is about 1 mile west of Shoreham-by-Sea, in West Sussex. We carry out flat roof surveys in Old Shoreham for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our West Sussex coverage includes Old Shoreham. You can also see our page for Brighton.
Surveys in BN43 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We also cover Shoreham-by-Sea (1 mile east), Adur (1 mile north), Kingston by Sea (2 miles east), Southwick (2 miles east) and Castle Town (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (5 miles west), Haywards Heath (14 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (11 miles north-east), Littlehampton (11 miles west), Rustington (10 miles west) and Storrington (9 miles north-west).
Near you in Old Shoreham
In Old Shoreham, that means homes and buildings near The Sir Robert Woodard Academy and The Amsterdam pub and the streets around them. Old Shoreham’s nearest station is Shoreham-By-Sea station, roughly 0.7 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Southlands Hospital (1.4 miles east) and Old Castle (4.6 miles west). Not far away are Lancing Ring and Adur Estuary RSPB Reserve.
Old Shoreham questions
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Old Shoreham, take more of a battering?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Do you cover smaller places like Old Shoreham?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Can you survey a flat roof on an office or unit?
Yes. We survey flat roofs on offices, shops, industrial units and blocks of flats. Larger commercial roofs are quoted for their size and access, so please ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
We don’t put a figure on it. As a guide, felt frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM often 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30, but the report tells you how your roof is really doing.
Will you walk on the flat roof?
It depends on what’s safe: on the roof where it is safe, and from windows, nearby vantage points and inside. We never walk on fragile rooflights or sheeting.
How much is a survey?
Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT.
What we cannot see
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Areas we can’t see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
- What’s under the membrane without opening it up
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- GRP fibreglass
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- Single-ply membranes
- EPDM rubber
- Felt flat roofs
Can I check my roof myself?
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.