East Sussex · London and the South East
Selmeston Flat Roof Survey
An experienced roof surveyor for flat roof surveys in Selmeston. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Standing water left after rain
- Outlets that hold water back
Flat roof survey in Selmeston: what you get
A flat roof doesn’t shed water the way a pitched roof does. Water lies on the surface for longer, so a small split or a blocked outlet can soon lead to a leak. We check the surface, the falls, the upstands and the edge trims, and we note any sign that the deck below has got wet. That way, defects are found before they reach the room below. We survey felt flat roofs, mastic asphalt and single-ply membranes, and people most often book us about ponding water that doesn’t drain away and splits and cracks in the covering.
Somewhere as small as Selmeston, flat roofs tend to be on extensions, garages and converted outbuildings. The checks are the same as anywhere: outlets, upstands, edges and the covering itself. We simply plan the journey and access in advance. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included when you book.
We write the report in plain English, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Location
- Selmeston (BN26)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Selmeston. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What else we do in Selmeston
Common questions in Selmeston
How do I find out if my home in Selmeston is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Will you come out to Selmeston?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Do you go up onto the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. If not, we use safe viewpoints and look inside, and we note any area we couldn’t see. We do not walk on fragile rooflights or sheeting.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
There is no honest way to give an exact number of years. As a guide, felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM frequently 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30, but the report tells you how your roof is really doing.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the building owner or managing agent. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Keep clear of rooflights and fragile roof sheets
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
- Have the roof looked at again after a severe storm
- 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.
Get splits, lifted seams and loose trims seen to while they’re small. Prompt repairs tend to add years to a flat roof.
What this survey can’t tell you
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
- What’s under the membrane without opening it up
- A fixed date for when the roof will need replacing
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Single-ply membranes
- Mastic asphalt
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
- Felt flat roofs
- Upstands and outlets
Flat and commercial roofs around Selmeston
Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are plenty of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops. Charleston Farmhouse, about 1.2 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Selmeston. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
The streets around a church such as The Parish Church of St Mary are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking. If you own a rental within reach of Berwick (Sussex) station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Selmeston is about 5 miles north of Seaford, in East Sussex. In Selmeston, as across East Sussex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Across East Sussex, we cover Selmeston. You can also see our page for Brighton.
Every address in BN26 is covered for flat roof surveys. We offer flat roof surveys to properties on The Street and Lewes Road and the roads around them. If you are just outside Selmeston, we cover Alciston (1 mile south), Berwick (1 mile east), Ripe (2 miles north), Winton (2 miles south) and Wickstreet (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (7 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles east), Seaford (5 miles south), Lewes (6 miles west), Hailsham (5 miles east) and Crowborough (14 miles north).
Near you in Selmeston
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Barley Mow pub, among other places. The closest station to Selmeston is Berwick (Sussex) station, roughly 1 mile east. Well-known places in the area include Drusillas Museum (1.8 miles south-east) and Chailey Heritage Marine Hospital (5.3 miles south-west). Open spaces near Selmeston include Firle Beacon.
The survey, step by step
We do not take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. The survey typically takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Older rural homes like those around Selmeston can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We start with the address and, on larger roofs, the roof area and access.
- Inside, we look for signs of water under the roof where we can reach.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, without walking on fragile surfaces.
- Each defect is photographed and its likely cause noted.
- The report explains the condition and recommends what to do first.
How to prepare
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Leave side gates unlocked
Book a survey
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
What we look for on each type of roof
Rooflights and upstands
Upstands at walls and parapets need to stay watertight as the building moves. We look for splits, gaps and failed flashings over the top.
Mastic asphalt
Without seams, asphalt tends to fail through cracking and at its skirtings. We record any crazing or splits and where water may be getting in.
What affects the cost of flat roof surveys
Survey packages start from £150, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- House, block, shop or office
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Helping us price your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Dates you are working to, like exchange
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
To get a price for flat roof surveys in Selmeston, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us give you an accurate price.