West Sussex · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in West Dean, West Sussex
Find out what’s going on with the flat roof before you spend money on it. We carry out flat roof surveys in West Dean, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Leaks around rooflights
Flat roof surveys in West Dean: local notes
Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are lots of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops. About 0.1 miles north-east lies West Dean House, a reminder of how long the area around West Dean has been built on. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you let a flat or house near Fishbourne station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round. The streets around a church such as The Parish Church of St Andrew are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking.
West Dean is about 4 miles north of Chichester, in West Sussex. We provide flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in West Dean and nearby. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
We survey roofs across the PO18 postcode area for flat roof surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Singleton (1 mile east), Charlton (2 miles east), East Dean (3 miles east), Cocking (3 miles north) and Bepton (4 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Bognor Regis (9 miles south-east), Chichester (4 miles south), Selsey (12 miles south), Littlehampton (13 miles south-east), Emsworth (8 miles south-west) and Rustington (13 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in West Dean
The closest station to West Dean is Fishbourne station, about 4.8 miles south. Nearby you’ll also find Chichester Castle (4.5 miles south) and Museum of Gardening (within half a mile north-east). Open spaces near West Dean include Levin Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
Flat roof survey in West Dean
A flat roof survey looks at the covering, the edges, the outlets and the details where the roof meets walls and rooflights. We cover felt, mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and single-ply roofs. We survey extension, garage and dormer roofs as well as bigger roofs on flats, offices and units. You get a written report with photos and our recommendations. We survey upstands and outlets, EPDM rubber and GRP fibreglass, and common reasons people get in touch are water getting in at rooflights and raised blisters across the surface.
Older buildings in small places like West Dean may be listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. If you’re planning work, check with the council first. Finding out what state the roof is in gives you the facts to plan with. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
The report doesn’t just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Location
- West Dean (PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. We survey on any day of the week, which can make access easier.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Before replacing a flat roof, it helps to know if you really need to. Sometimes a few details are to blame, and sometimes the covering has simply had its day. Our report gives you the evidence to discuss with a roofer. In a small place like West Dean, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book us in West Dean
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- An independent look at the roof
- Photographs and a written report every time
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
Take a look at our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
Useful tips for West Dean property owners
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Keep outlets clear of leaves and moss
- Limit foot traffic on the covering
- Ask whoever fits equipment on the roof to make good the covering
- Look for standing water a day after rain
For landlords and building managers, the report is a dated record of the roof’s condition. It is useful when planning upkeep and setting budgets, and it gives a baseline to compare against next time.
Keep foot traffic on a flat roof to a minimum. Where someone does need access, ask them to use boards or a protected route, and remind them never to step on rooflights or fragile sheets.
More services for West Dean
Your questions about flat roof surveys in West Dean
Will you come out to West Dean?
Yes, West Dean is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in West Dean?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. The report includes photographs of what we found, so you can see each point for yourself.
Can you survey any kind of flat roof?
We cover the main flat roof coverings: felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply. We record what the covering is and how it is holding up.
How fast do I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. Mention any deadline as you book.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Mention it when you get in touch and we will explain what’s needed.
Will you walk on the flat roof?
It depends on what’s safe: the roof itself where that is safe, plus windows, vantage points and the rooms below. We never walk on fragile rooflights or sheeting.
How the survey works
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely, from ground level, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where it applies. Most surveys take between one and two hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. Cottages and farmhouses around West Dean often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We agree the roof to be surveyed, its use and any leaks you know about.
- The roof is viewed from safe positions, including the roof itself where that’s safe.
- The covering is checked for wear, splits, blisters and standing water.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, comes to you by email.
How to prepare
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
How to book
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
What a survey costs
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The roof’s overall size
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Getting in touch
Some details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you get in touch, it helps to mention:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- The address and postcode of the property
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
When to book a survey in West Dean
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.
Most people get in touch after spotting one of these:
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
Anyone responsible for a site like West Dean CofE Primary School will know that a large flat roof with a good many outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail.
What to check before booking
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What happens after the report arrives
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?