West Sussex · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Ford, West Sussex
Gutter surveys in Ford and the rest of West Sussex. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Gutters overflowing in heavy rain
- Cracked or loose downpipes
- Dripping or leaking gutter joints
Gutter surveys for homes and businesses in Ford
Most gutters hang from the fascia boards at the eaves, so fascias and soffits are part of the survey. Long-term overflowing can soften and rot timber boards and stain the soffits below. Older buildings, from before 2000, can have asbestos cement soffits, gutters or downpipes. We don’t carry out asbestos testing, but we flag anything that could contain it. If you’re worried about soffits marked by water and water backing up from a hidden gutter, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Ford, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are frequently old. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
After the visit, you get a photo-illustrated written report, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the gutter, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Place
- Ford (BN18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a gutter survey looks like in Ford
Ford lies within about 2 miles of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles, while driving rain finds any gap. Ecclesden Manor, about 4.8 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Ford. Older homes in the wider area frequently 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.
Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St Andrew: the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. Take a building like The Littlehampton Academy: large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Ford is about 2 miles north-west of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. Anywhere in Ford, we can carry out gutter surveys at your property. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton.
We survey roofs across the BN18 postcode area for gutter surveys and the streets around it. If you need a gutter survey at a property on Station Road, Ford Road and Rodney Crescent or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for gutter surveys include Tortington (1 mile north), Horsemere Green (1 mile south), Climping (1 mile south), Wick (1 mile east) and Lyminster (1 mile east). Further out, we also cover Worthing (8 miles east), Bognor Regis (5 miles south-west), Chichester (9 miles west), Selsey (11 miles south-west), Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles east) and Lancing (11 miles east).
What’s near Ford
In Ford, that means homes and buildings near The Arundel Arms Public House At Ford Station and the streets around them. Ford has its own railway station: Ford station. Other landmarks nearby include Arundel and District Hospital (2.1 miles north) and Rustington Museum (3.5 miles east). For a walk, there’s WWT Arundel.
What affects the price in Ford
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Which survey package you book
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, from £400 with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
What we need to know
These details help when you contact us:
- When you need the report by
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and give us a few details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: 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.
What we’re asked to look at in Ford
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.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Joints that drip after rain
- Leaking or loose downpipes
- Sagging gutters and loose brackets
- Blocked outlets and hoppers
If you let a flat or house near Ford station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Their report turnaround times
- What experience they bring
What happens if roof problems are left?
Overflowing water soaks the walls under the gutter. Given time, it can cause damp patches, damaged pointing and rot in nearby timber. Spotting the problem early tends to mean a simpler fix. Around Ford, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book with us
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- 98% of customers satisfied
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Package prices that include VAT
Read our cost guide or two real surveys.
Other services in Ford
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes about 1–2 hours for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. Somewhere like Ford needs a little journey planning: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- You tell us where you’ve seen overflows, drips or damp.
- We walk round the building and check the gutters, downpipes and fascias from ground level.
- We look at hidden gutters as far as safe access allows.
- The loft space is checked for staining, where it can be reached safely.
- A report with photos and recommendations follows.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about parking near the property
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Getting a price
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.
Advice
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
A London butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, and a blockage there can overflow inside. It’s inspected as far as safe access allows.
FAQs for Ford
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Ford?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Ford?
It can do. Ford is within about 2 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
When does the report arrive?
That depends on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. The report is emailed to you.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Do you test soffits or gutters for asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos testing. Where gutters, downpipes or soffits could be asbestos cement, we flag them so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before any work.
Do you survey at weekends?
Yes. Surveys are carried out on any day of the week. Just call 07833 053749 or email us to arrange a day.