East Sussex · London and the South East
Gutter survey in East Dean, East Sussex
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes across East Dean, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Fascia boards damaged by overflowing water
- Brackets that have dropped or snapped
- Cracked or loose downpipes
How a gutter survey works in East Dean
A gutter needs a steady fall towards its outlet or water sits in them. Sagging brackets and slipped joints leave water standing and overflowing where the gutter dips. We look along each run for sags, gaps and leaking joints, along with the brackets and downpipe fixings. Recommendations are written down and prioritised by urgency where relevant. We survey eaves gutters, fascias and soffits and outlets and hoppers, and common reasons people get in touch are cracked or loose downpipes and water backing up from a hidden gutter.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
Where we can’t see part of the gutter, the report says so. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- East Dean (BN20)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in East Dean
Hidden gutters are frequently lined with lead or another sheet covering. Splits and blocked outlets in these gutters can send water straight into the building as there’s nowhere harmless for it to go. Lead is also a target for theft.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Gutters full of debris and silt
- Sagging gutters and loose brackets
- Hoppers and outlets full of debris
- Water backing up from a hidden gutter
For an older house near a landmark like The Parish Church of St Simon and St Jude, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Before you book anyone
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Which limits apply to the survey
Also near East Dean
What else we do in East Dean
Roof by roof
Cast iron gutters
Cast iron tends to fail at the joints and fixings. Cracks, rust and leaks are recorded as far as we can see them.
Aluminium and other metal gutters
On big buildings, one blocked outlet can affect a long run so outlets get close attention.
The survey, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photographs as we go and record our findings for the written report. It usually takes between one and two hours at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In a small place like East Dean, access is usually 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 tell us where you’ve seen overflows, drips or damp.
- The eaves gutters, downpipes and fascias are looked at from ground level and windows.
- Valleys, parapets and box gutters are inspected where they can safely be seen.
- Where it’s safe, we check the loft for signs of water.
- You receive a report with photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Let us know about parking before the day
Getting a price
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
Should I look at the roof myself first?
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
It’s useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Why get it checked now?
Damp walls are sometimes blamed on the wrong thing. When rainwater goods are the source, treating the wall alone will not solve it. A gutter survey helps rule the rainwater system in or out. In a small place like East Dean, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why us?
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Photos and a written report every time
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- PI and public liability insurance
Take a look at our cost guide and our case studies.
East Dean: your questions answered
Is my home in East Dean listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Can a landlord with a rental near Eastbourne station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you need.
How soon will I get the report?
That depends on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. Reports are sent by email.
Will you check if gutters are causing damp inside?
Overflowing gutters often lead to damp walls, and the survey looks for that. If the cause looks like something else, the report says so, based on what we can see.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Let us know about it when booking and we will plan the survey around it.
How experienced are you?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Keep climbers away from the eaves
- Look for downpipes coming loose
- Get the gutters cleaned out every year
- Ask for valleys and parapet gutters to be cleared too
The report comes with photos and clear written recommendations. Share it with a contractor of your choice so they know what needs doing.
Get small faults like a dripping joint or loose downpipe sorted quickly. Left alone, they normally grow, and the water they spill can damage walls and timber.
East Dean homes and their roofs
The coast is about 1 mile or less from East Dean, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs, and oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of East Sussex’s older buildings. Whatever the covering, it’s often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
If you let a flat or house near Eastbourne station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. Alfriston Clergy House, about 3.9 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around East Dean. Older homes in the area may have roofs that need matching materials when work is done.
East Dean is about 4 miles south-west of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. East Dean is part of the area we cover as part of our work across London and South East England. East Dean is one of the places in East Sussex where we work. There is also a page for Brighton.
All of BN20 is covered for gutter surveys. We offer gutter surveys to properties on Lower Street, Went Way and Gilberts Drive and the roads around them. If you’re just outside East Dean, we cover Friston (1 mile north-east), Birling Gap (1 mile south), Jevington (2 miles north), Meads (3 miles east) and Old Town (3 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (4 miles north-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (13 miles north-east), Seaford (4 miles west), Lewes (12 miles north-west), Hailsham (8 miles north) and Uckfield (15 miles north).
Local landmarks in East Dean
In East Dean, that means homes and buildings near The Tiger Inn. The closest station to East Dean is Eastbourne station, about 3.4 miles east. Nearby you will also find Filching Manor And Motor Museum (3.3 miles north) and Eastbourne District General Hospital (3.3 miles north-east). Open spaces near East Dean include Combe Hill.