West Sussex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Portfield, West Sussex
Flat roof surveys in Portfield from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
Flat roof survey in Portfield: what you get
If the house you’re buying has a flat roof on an extension, dormer or garage, it is worth knowing its condition before exchange. Felt roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, while EPDM and GRP often last longer. We set out the type of covering, its condition and the defects we found, with photos of each. That gives you facts to raise with the seller or agent. If you’re worried about pools of water lying on the roof and outlets that hold water back, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Around a smaller place like Portfield, flat roofs usually cover extensions, garages and dormers. Even a small flat roof can let plenty of water into the room below. Knowing the covering and how it was laid tells you what to expect from it. From an upstairs window, look for standing water, splits and edges coming away.
Where we can’t see part of the flat roof, the report says so. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Portfield (PO19, PO20, PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
Flat roof surveys in Portfield: local notes
Portfield is within about 5 miles of the coast, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Coastal wind works at the edges of flat roofs, and salt air wears metal trims and fixings. About 2.5 miles north lies Goodwood House, a reminder of how long the area around Portfield has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead.
Landlords with a home close to Chichester station may find that the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint. Take a building like Portfield Primary Academy: ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season. For hotels and guest houses around Portfield, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest, so it pays to find faults before guests do.
Portfield is about 1 mile east of Chichester, in West Sussex. We provide flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Portfield and the surrounding area. Our West Sussex coverage includes Portfield. Portsmouth is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: PO19, PO20 and PO18. We cover properties on Kent Road, York Road and Spur Road and the roads around them. You’ll find Portfield on the A259 and A285, so it’s easy for us to get to. Close by, we survey roofs in Chichester (1 mile west), Westhampnett (1 mile north-east), Shopwyke (1 mile east), Maudlin (1 mile north-east) and North Mundham (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Bognor Regis (5 miles south-east), Selsey (7 miles south), Littlehampton (10 miles east), Emsworth (8 miles west), Rustington (11 miles east) and Storrington (15 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Portfield
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Prebendal School, The East Gate Public House and Chichester High School For Girls. The nearest railway station is Chichester station, about 0.9 miles west of the centre. A little further out are The Chichester City Museum (0.6 miles west) and Chichester Castle (0.6 miles west). For a walk, there is Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve and Stoke Down.
How we price flat roof surveys
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What to let us know when you contact us
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- Anything about access we should know
- The address and postcode of the property
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
If you are buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email when you are ready.
Places near Portfield
Other services in Portfield
Leave it or get it looked at?
A leak over an office, shop or unit can affect the people and stock underneath. A planned survey lets you budget for work rather than deal with an emergency around the business. Tradespeople may need to travel further to a smaller place like Portfield, so it’s useful to plan roof work rather than call someone out in a hurry. Knowing early gives you time to get the right people in.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, including VAT. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Portfield
- Photographs and a written report every time
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or two real surveys.
How the survey changes by roof type
Felt and built-up roofs
A felt roof frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, though quality and upkeep make a big difference. We record how yours is doing and where it is weakest.
Mastic asphalt
Mastic asphalt is a heavy, seamless covering frequently found on older blocks, balconies and commercial roofs. We look for crazing, cracks, blisters and splits at the skirtings.
Before and after the survey
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Note where water lies after a downpour
- Have the roof looked at again after a severe storm
- Limit foot traffic on the covering
- File the paperwork for the roof and any repairs
For landlords and building managers, the report is a dated record of the roof’s condition. It’s useful when planning upkeep and setting budgets, and it makes changes easy to spot at the next survey.
Have the roof surveyed every few years, and after any work that goes through it. You will spot changes early and have a record to look back on.
Portfield questions
Do you cover commercial flat roofs around Portfield?
Yes, commercial buildings, hotels included, are part of the work. Roof access is agreed with the building manager or owner beforehand.
Will you come out to Portfield?
Yes. Portfield is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
What’s in the report?
A photo-illustrated written report, covering the condition of the flat roof, the defects we found and what we recommend, in order of urgency where relevant. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them.
How much does a flat roof survey cost in Portfield?
Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your survey before booking, and it depends on the roof’s size, access and the package you choose. For a price, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it applies and safe. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
How long does the survey take?
Expect it to take about 1–2 hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. The written report follows by email, on the timescale of your package.
How the survey works
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. A typical visit takes roughly 1–2 hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. Some parts of a survey depend on the weather, so a visit to Portfield is booked with the forecast in mind: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- First we go through the roof, what’s beneath it and any problems so far.
- The roof is viewed from safe positions, including the roof itself where that’s safe.
- We check the covering for splits, blisters, ponding and wear.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Before the survey
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Getting a price
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The price is agreed before a date is set.