West Sussex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Shipley, West Sussex
Flat roof surveys in Shipley from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and the South East.
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Outlets that hold water back
Flat roof surveys around Shipley
If your home is older, it’s worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area. 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. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Shipley CofE Primary School, a large flat roof with a good many outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. Take an older house close to The Church of St Mary the Virgin: the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems usually start.
Shipley is about 6 miles south of Horsham, in West Sussex. Shipley is one of many places we visit across West Sussex. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex, large and small. We also survey roofs in Crawley.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: RH13. Local streets include Church Close and School Lane, and we cover them all. Close by, we survey roofs in Whitehall (1 mile south-west), Dragons Green (1 mile north), Broomer's Corner (1 mile south-west), Dial Post (2 miles south) and West Grinstead (2 miles east). Further out, we also cover Crawley (12 miles north-east), Horsham (6 miles north), Worthing (11 miles south), Haywards Heath (12 miles east), Burgess Hill (11 miles east) and Littlehampton (14 miles south-west).
What’s near Shipley
For rail, the closest station is Billingshurst station, about 4 miles north-west. Not far away are Knepp Wildland.
Flat roof survey in Shipley: what you get
Our Basic Survey, from £150, gives you a visual inspection with photographs 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. Bigger commercial roofs are priced on their size and access. We’re often asked to look into raised blisters across the surface and gaps at upstands and abutments, on mastic asphalt, GRP fibreglass and EPDM rubber.
In a village or hamlet like Shipley, flat roofs are normally on extensions, garages, outbuildings or barn conversions. They need the same care as any town roof: the covering, the edges, the upstands and where water drains away. The journey and access are planned beforehand. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included as you book.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Shipley (RH13)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Should I look at the roof myself first?
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.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
Nearby places to Shipley
More services for Shipley
Tips that help
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Look for standing water a day after rain
- Plan a survey before the covering reaches the end of its usual life
- Note any new marks on ceilings beneath the roof
- Ask whoever fits equipment on the roof to make good the covering
If you’re buying, the report gives you something specific to take back to the seller or agent. It can support a request for work before completion or a conversation about price, depending on what we found.
Get splits, lifted seams and loose trims seen to while they’re small. Prompt repairs tend to add years to a flat roof.
What we can’t see
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
- Parts of the roof that aren’t safe to walk on or view
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Mastic asphalt
- Felt flat roofs
- Upstands and outlets
- EPDM rubber
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
What happens if roof problems are left?
Most flat roofs are out of sight, so they’re easy to forget. Many owners only find out a roof is worn out when water comes through. A survey every few years stops that from catching you out. For an older or listed building in a place like Shipley, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Shipley
- Packages from £150, with VAT included
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- An independent look at the roof
Shipley: your questions answered
Is my home in Shipley listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you cover smaller places like Shipley?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Can you test old roof sheets for asbestos?
We do not test for asbestos. If we see materials that could contain it, like cement sheets on a building from before 2000, we flag them and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor.
How do you inspect a flat roof?
We inspect from wherever is safe: on the roof where it is safe, and from windows, nearby vantage points and inside. Fragile rooflights and fragile sheets are never walked on.
Can you find where water is getting through my flat roof?
The survey covers the covering and all the details where leaks usually begin, recording anything that could let water through. If the source is hidden, we may suggest a leak investigation or electronic leak detection.
What does a roof survey cost?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT.
How long will you be at the property?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof; most visits 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.
Do you need a flat roof survey in Shipley?
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.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- A sagging deck under the covering
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
Landlords with a home close to Billingshurst station may find that the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
What to check before booking
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
What we do, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photos. As for time on site, most surveys take about one to two hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. Somewhere like Shipley needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- 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’s access.
- 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
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
We survey roofs seven days a week. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.