West Sussex · London and the South East
Gutter Survey in Earnley
We carry out gutter surveys in Earnley and the rest of West Sussex. We survey seven days a week.
- Gutters full of debris and silt
- Cracked or loose downpipes
- Rotten fascias or stained soffits
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes about one to two hours for most homes, and longer where there are parapet, valley or box gutters to follow. You’re welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Rural addresses near Earnley can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start with what you’ve noticed, like damp or overflowing gutters.
- The eaves gutters, downpipes and fascias are looked at from ground level and windows.
- Valleys, parapets and box gutters are inspected where they can be seen safely.
- Where it’s safe, we check the loft for signs of water.
- A written report with photographs and recommendations follows.
How to prepare
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
Arrange a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
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Gutter survey in Earnley
Gutters carry rain off the roof and away from the walls. If they clog, drip or sag, the water ends up somewhere it shouldn’t and that normally means the walls or the inside of the building. We check the full rainwater system above ground, from eaves gutters and valleys to outlets, hoppers and downpipes. The findings go into a written report with photos. If you’ve noticed hoppers and outlets full of debris and valley or box gutters that overflow inside, we can find out what’s behind it, on valley gutters, downpipes and parapet and box gutters alike.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
The report records the gutter as we found it on the day. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Place
- Earnley (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near Earnley
More services for Earnley
Why get it checked now?
It’s easy to put damp down to the wrong cause. When rainwater goods are the source, treating the wall alone will not solve it. Checking the gutters first helps you spend in the right place. Around Earnley, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
Gutter survey starts from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT, and we can help you choose.
Why us?
- Package prices that include VAT
- Plain-English reports with photos
- 98% customer satisfaction
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
See what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
What we’re asked to look at in Earnley
Gutter brackets work loose or corrode with age. Wet leaves and silt add a lot of weight, and that weight pulls sections out of line. Once the fall is lost, water sits at the low point and spills over.
Look out for signs like these:
- Joints that drip after rain
- Gutters packed with leaves or moss
- Rotten fascias or stained soffits
- Sagging gutters and loose brackets
For site and facilities teams at buildings like East Wittering Community Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- What exactly goes into their report
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- What the survey will not cover
Tips from our surveys
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Check that downpipes are firmly fixed to the wall
- Look out for overflows when it pours
- Get trees that overhang the gutters trimmed
- Watch ceilings under valley gutters for fresh marks
If anything in the report is not clear, ask us. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation.
Watch your gutters from the ground or a window during heavy rain. Water spilling over the edge or out of a joint is a sign that something needs attention before damage builds up.
Questions from Earnley
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Earnley, take more of a battering?
Frequently, yes. Within about 2 miles of the sea, as Earnley is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Do you cover smaller places like Earnley?
Yes, Earnley is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report, and it doesn’t include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If the survey needs it and the roof space can be reached safely, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch.
What happens next?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Do I need to be at home?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Can I check my roof myself?
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us as you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
What we look for on each type of roof
Cast iron gutters
Cast iron gutters and downpipes are found on many older buildings. They last well when painted but corrode once the paint wears off.
Lead-lined valley and parapet gutters
Lead linings are common in valleys and parapet gutters on older houses. Splits and failed joints in the lead can let water straight in.
Gutter surveys around Earnley
Earnley is within about 2 miles of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Earnley Church, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Earnley is about 3 miles north-west of Selsey, in West Sussex. Surveys in Earnley work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Across West Sussex, we cover Earnley. There’s also a page for Portsmouth.
We cover every part of PO20 for gutter surveys. You will find streets such as Earnley Manor Close, Bookers Lane and Drove Lane, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for gutter surveys include East Wittering (1 mile west), Almodington (1 mile north-east), Somerley (1 mile north), Shipton Green (2 miles north) and Birdham (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Bognor Regis (7 miles east), Chichester (6 miles north-east), Selsey (3 miles south-east), Littlehampton (14 miles east), Emsworth (7 miles north-west) and Rustington (15 miles east).
Landmarks near Earnley
A little further out are Selsey Lifeboat Museum (3.9 miles south-east). The countryside around Earnley includes Pilsey Island.