West Sussex · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Sidlesham Common
Flat roof surveys across Sidlesham Common, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photos.
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Ponding water that does not drain away
- Cracked or split membrane
How a flat roof survey works in Sidlesham Common
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. If you’ve noticed upstands pulling away from walls and standing water left after rain, we can find out what’s behind it.
Older buildings in small places like Sidlesham Common may be listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. Check with the council before planning any change of material. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
You receive the findings by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Place
- Sidlesham Common (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Flat and commercial roofs around Sidlesham Common
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Sidlesham Common, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt in the air is hard on metal flashings and fixings, and wind catches any loose edge on a flat roof. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
Take an older house close to St Mary Our Lady Sidlesham: any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof. If you own a rental within reach of Chichester station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak.
Sidlesham Common is about 3 miles south of Chichester, in West Sussex. Sidlesham Common is one of many places we visit across West Sussex. Sidlesham Common is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex we cover for flat roof surveys. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
Here we cover the PO20 postcode area for flat roof surveys. If you need a flat roof survey at a property on Chichester Road and Jury Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover Street End (1 mile south-east), Sidlesham (1 mile south), Fisher (1 mile east), Keynor Estate (2 miles south) and South Mundham (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Bognor Regis (5 miles east), Chichester (3 miles north), Selsey (4 miles south), Littlehampton (12 miles east), Emsworth (7 miles north-west) and Rustington (13 miles east).
Around Sidlesham Common
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Blacksmith's Arms Public House. For rail, the closest station is Chichester station, roughly 2.6 miles north of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Chichester Cathedral Treasury (2.9 miles north) and Chichester Castle (3.2 miles north). Open spaces near Sidlesham Common include Nutborne Marshes.
What we look for on each type of roof
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply membranes can be damaged by foot traffic and equipment on the roof. We note any punctures, tears and loose areas we can see.
Mastic asphalt
With age, asphalt can harden and crack with movement. The report shows where it’s cracking and how far it seems to extend.
Places near Sidlesham Common
Other services in Sidlesham Common
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Check the outlets after the leaves fall
- Keep clear of rooflights and fragile roof sheets
- Check that new brackets or units haven’t damaged the covering
- Look for standing water a day after rain
Many people send the report to two or three roofers for quotes. With each roofer working from the same list, comparing quotes is simpler. It’s your choice who carries out the work and when.
Try not to let a flat roof become a walkway. If access is needed, boards or walkways help protect the covering, and to keep well clear of rooflights and fragile sheeting.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Sidlesham Common
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when booking and it will help the survey.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: 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.
Questions from Sidlesham Common
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Sidlesham Common, take more of a battering?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Is Sidlesham Common within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Will this cover the whole house?
No. It’s a closer look at the flat roof, not a survey of the whole property. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one, and structural calculations need a structural engineer.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report. We’ll recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
Will I get photos?
Yes, plenty. Pictures sit next to the findings they show, which makes the report easy to follow.
Do you check flat roofs for asbestos?
We do not test for asbestos. If we see materials that could contain it, such as cement sheets on a building from before 2000, we flag them and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor.
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes an hour or two for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. You are welcome to ask questions while we’re there. In a hamlet or village like Sidlesham Common, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- 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
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Arrange a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email when you are ready.
Advice
What happens if roof problems are left?
Ponding seldom gets better on its own. Most often it means blocked outlets, poor falls or a deck that is dipping, and each wet season wears the covering further. Knowing the cause early gives you more choice over what to do. For older village homes like those around Sidlesham Common, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can be seen safely and which survey you book.
Why book us in Sidlesham Common
- Package prices that include VAT
- Surveys on any day of the week
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
See our cost guide or two real surveys.