West Sussex · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in West Thorney
Flat roof surveys across West Thorney, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
About our flat roof survey in West Thorney
Our flat roof survey checks the waterproof covering and every detail around it, from edges and upstands to outlets and rooflights. Felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply PVC or TPO roofs are all part of the work. It suits a small roof over an extension or garage as well as a large one over flats, offices or units. You get a written report with photographs and our recommendations. If you are worried about standing water left after rain and loose or cracked edge trims, we can find out what’s behind it.
Older buildings in small places like West Thorney may be listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. Check with the council before planning any change of material. 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 is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Where
- West Thorney (PO10)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.
How the survey changes by roof type
EPDM rubber
Rubber roofs can shrink back from their edges or lift where the adhesive has failed. We record any we can see, with photos.
Rooflights and upstands
Rooflights and fragile sheets are never walked on. We view them from safe positions and photograph what we see.
What a flat roof survey looks like in West Thorney
The coast is about 1 mile or less from West Thorney, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Coastal wind works at the edges of flat roofs, and salt air wears metal trims and fixings. Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere.
Landlords with a home close to Southbourne station may find that the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint. For an older house near a landmark such as The Parish Church of St Nicholas, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
West Thorney is about 5 miles south-east of Havant, in West Sussex. West Thorney gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful look at whatever is safely visible, photos and a clear written report. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex. There is also a page for Portsmouth.
We cover every part of the PO10 postcode area for flat roof surveys. Nearby, we also carry out flat roof surveys in Thorney Island (1 mile north-west), Tye (2 miles west), Southbourne (2 miles north), North Hayling (2 miles west) and Northney (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Bognor Regis (10 miles east), Chichester (6 miles east), Selsey (8 miles south-east), Emsworth (3 miles north-west), Portfield (7 miles east) and Yapton (13 miles east).
Landmarks near West Thorney
In West Thorney, that means homes and buildings near Eames Farm and Bourne Community College, among other places. West Thorney’s nearest station is Southbourne station, about 2.2 miles north. Nearby you will also find Emsworth Museum (2.5 miles north-west) and Warblington Castle (3.1 miles north-west). Not far away are Nutborne Marshes.
Common questions in West Thorney
Is my home in West Thorney listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Will you come out to West Thorney?
Yes, West Thorney is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Is ponding on a flat roof a problem?
Ponding is worth looking into. It frequently means a blocked outlet, poor falls or a dipping deck, and it wears the covering faster. We record where it sits and the likely cause.
Will you walk on the flat roof?
It depends on what’s safe: the roof itself where that’s safe, plus windows, vantage points and the rooms below. Fragile rooflights and fragile sheets are never walked on.
Does the survey cover asbestos?
Our survey doesn’t include asbestos testing. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos, for instance in cement roof sheets. Anything that might contain it is flagged, so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before work starts.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. We’ll talk about access as you book.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain does not normally stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Strong wind or a downpour can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we’ll arrange another day with you.
How the survey works
We look at the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the loft space too. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey typically takes between one and two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. In a small place like West Thorney, access is typically the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You let us know about the roof, its covering if you know it, and any leaks.
- The roof is inspected from safe viewpoints, and from the roof itself where that is safe.
- Every part of the roof we can see is checked: covering, falls, upstands, outlets, trims and rooflights.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where we can reach them.
- You get a written report with photos and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Book a survey
To get a price for flat roof surveys in West Thorney, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Some details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Advice
Nearby places to West Thorney
More services for West Thorney
Do you need a flat roof survey in West Thorney?
Buyers often book after their home survey suggests a closer look at a flat roof. Building owners and managing agents book to plan maintenance, or before a sale or a new lease. Either way, you get a clear record of the roof, with photographs.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Ponding water that does not drain away
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
Warblington Castle lies about 3.1 miles north-west, so building around West Thorney goes back a long way. If your home is older, its flat-roofed extension or dormer may be on its second or third covering.
What to check before booking
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- How soon the report will arrive
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
Useful tips for West Thorney property owners
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
- Have the roof looked at again after a severe storm
- Make sure new fixings through the roof are properly sealed
- Limit foot traffic on the covering
Buyers can take the findings back to the seller or the agent. It can support a request for work before completion or a conversation about price, depending on the findings.
Get splits, lifted seams and loose trims seen to while they’re small. A flat roof that is looked after between surveys usually lasts longer.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Let us know about it when booking and we’ll plan the survey around it.
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.