West Sussex · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Shoreham-by-Sea
Flat roof surveys in Shoreham-by-Sea from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and the South East.
- Cracked or split membrane
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Loose or cracked edge trims
Common questions in Shoreham-by-Sea
Do you cover Shoreham-by-Sea?
Yes, Shoreham-by-Sea is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is my home in Shoreham-by-Sea listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Will I get photos?
Yes. Photographs are taken throughout the survey, and they go into the written report.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, if the building owner or managing agent agrees access. We check the parts we are given access to, and the report makes that clear.
Does someone need to be in?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when you book.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and details are available on request.
Do you check flat roofs for asbestos?
Our survey doesn’t include asbestos testing. Older buildings, from before 2000, may have asbestos in cement sheets or soffits. We note anything that could contain it, and a specialist asbestos surveyor should check it before it’s disturbed.
How a flat roof survey works in Shoreham-by-Sea
Buying a home with a flat-roofed extension, dormer or garage? It helps 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. Our report records the covering, how it’s holding up and any defects we can see, with a photo of every defect. That gives you facts to raise with the seller or agent. Typical surveys look at gaps at upstands and abutments and blisters and bubbles in the covering, on GRP fibreglass, mastic asphalt and upstands and outlets.
Shops, surgeries, schools and small business units in towns like Shoreham-by-Sea often have flat roofs. Out of sight, they tend to be forgotten until a leak appears, and by then the insulation underneath may be wet. A proper look at outlets, upstands and the membrane itself shows where it stands. If someone else manages the building, let us know so roof access can be arranged.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the flat roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- Shoreham-by-Sea (BN43, BN15, BN42)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Felt and built-up roofs
Felt roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, depending on how they were laid and looked after. Our report sets out its condition and the areas most at risk.
Mastic asphalt
Asphalt roofs are common on older flats, walkways and commercial buildings. We look for crazing, cracks, blisters and splits at the skirtings.
What we do, step by step
We will ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes an hour or two at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In Shoreham-by-Sea, many roofs join a neighbour’s, so shared parts are looked at as far as they can be seen from your property. It helps to know about previous repairs, leaks or recent work.
- We start with the details: the address, the roof’s use and any leaks or stains.
- We check the roof from wherever it can safely be seen.
- The covering, falls, upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- Inside, we look for damp and staining under the roof where there is access.
- You get a written report with photos and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Getting a price
We confirm the price for your roof before you book, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Also near Shoreham-by-Sea
What else we do in Shoreham-by-Sea
Flat roof surveys in Shoreham-by-Sea: local notes
Shoreham-by-Sea is within about 1 mile of the coast, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. On a flat roof near the sea, edge trims and upstands take the brunt of the wind, and metal parts corrode faster. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere.
Portslade Manor, about 2.3 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Shoreham-by-Sea. Older houses nearby frequently have flat roofs added much later, built to very different standards from the main roof. If you look after a building such as Buckingham Park Primary School, a large flat roof with plenty of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
Shoreham-by-Sea is about 4 miles west of Brighton and Hove, in West Sussex. Bookings from Shoreham-by-Sea are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Across West Sussex, we cover Shoreham-by-Sea. There is also a page for Brighton.
All of BN43, BN15 and BN42 is within our area for flat roof surveys. Local streets include Adelaide Square, High Street and Rainbow Square. Shoreham-by-Sea is on the A27 and A259, so it’s easy for us to get to. If you are just outside Shoreham-by-Sea, we cover Old Shoreham (1 mile west), Kingston by Sea (1 mile east), Adur (1 mile north-west), Southwick (2 miles east) and Portslade (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (6 miles west), Haywards Heath (14 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (10 miles north-east), Littlehampton (12 miles west), Rustington (11 miles west) and Storrington (10 miles north-west).
Around Shoreham-by-Sea
We work in homes and buildings around Shoreham College, The Crabtree pub and Shoreham Academy. Shoreham-by-Sea has its own railway station: Shoreham-By-Sea station. Other landmarks nearby include Southlands Hospital (0.6 miles north-east). The countryside around Shoreham-by-Sea includes Thundersbarrow Hill and Shoreham Beach.
What we’re asked to look at in Shoreham-by-Sea
Flat roofs take the full force of the weather on a surface that drains slowly. Over the years, coverings harden, crack and start to come away at the edges. People usually call us when a leak appears, before a purchase, or when the roof may be near the end of its life.
Look out for signs like these:
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Leaks around rooflights
- Standing water left after rain
- Raised blisters across the surface
If you let a flat or house near Shoreham-By-Sea station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether the price includes VAT
Tips from our surveys
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Make sure new fixings through the roof are properly sealed
- File the paperwork for the roof and any repairs
- Plan a survey before the covering reaches the end of its usual life
- Note where water lies after a downpour
If anything in the report isn’t clear, just ask us. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one, giving you a chance to go through what we found.
Get splits, lifted seams and loose trims seen to while they’re small. A flat roof that’s looked after between surveys usually lasts longer.
For landlords and managing agents
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photos included.
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the flat roof, with photographs, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Checking the roof from the ground
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.