East Sussex · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Ripe, East Sussex
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes across Ripe, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Rotten fascias or stained soffits
- Brackets that have dropped or snapped
- Leaks at the gutter joints
Should I look at the roof myself first?
You can learn a lot 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.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Gutter survey in Ripe: what you get
We survey gutters and rainwater systems in Ripe and right across London and the South East. We inspect everything we can see safely, from the ground, from windows and from the loft space. A visit normally takes between one and two hours for most homes, and longer where there are parapet, valley or box gutters to follow. The written report follows, with photos and recommendations. If you are worried about hoppers and outlets full of debris and water spilling over the gutter edge, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Ripe, 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. We report on what can safely be seen, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it is usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
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, whichever applies.
- Place
- Ripe (BN8)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens if roof problems are left?
Small gutter faults rarely fix themselves. Each heavy rain puts more water where it shouldn’t be, on walls, timber and sometimes inside. A survey now tells you what needs doing and how urgent it is. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Ripe, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, including VAT. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why us?
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- A photo-illustrated written report
- 5,000+ surveys completed
Read what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Roof by roof
Box and secret gutters
A box gutter is built into the roof, frequently behind a parapet, so overflows can end up inside. We inspect them as far as it is safe to see them.
Fascias and soffits
Overflowing water stains soffits and rots timber. We check them along with the gutters.
What a gutter survey does not cover
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- The inside of buried drains
- Gutters out of sight from every safe vantage point
- The inside of a downpipe along its whole length
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Fascias and soffits
- Valley gutters
- Eaves gutters
- Outlets and hoppers
- Downpipes
- Parapet and box gutters
Your questions about gutter surveys in Ripe
Is Ripe within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
I let a flat near Berwick (Sussex) station. Can you check the roof?
Of course. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Can you tell me if my old gutters contain asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos testing. Where gutters, downpipes or soffits could be asbestos cement, we flag them and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Do you survey at weekends?
Yes, weekend visits are possible as well as weekdays. To book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What happens next?
We email you the written report with photos and recommendations. It’s yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Do you survey underground drains?
No, we don’t carry out CCTV drain surveys. We check gutters, outlets, hoppers, downpipes and overflows and note any sign that the drains need checking.
Useful tips for Ripe property owners
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Look for downpipes coming loose
- Keep climbers away from the eaves
- Ask for valleys and parapet gutters to be cleared too
- Leave gutter checks at height to someone equipped for it
If anything in the report isn’t clear, ask us. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey comes with an in-person one.
Get the gutters cleared every year or more often near trees. Late autumn, after the leaves have fallen, is a sensible time. Clear gutters can carry water away as they should.
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes between one and two hours for a house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. You’re welcome to ask questions while we’re there. For a village or hamlet like Ripe, the journey is planned in advance: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- We ask about overflows, damp or leaks you’ve noticed.
- Gutters, downpipes, fascias and soffits are inspected from safe vantage points.
- Valley, parapet and box gutters are inspected as far as they can safely be seen.
- Where the loft can be reached safely, we check it for staining or damp.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Getting a price
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Read more
What else we do in Ripe
Gutter surveys in Ripe: local notes
Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. 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. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. With Charleston Farmhouse about 2.3 miles south-west, Ripe sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you own a rental within reach of Berwick (Sussex) station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. If you own one of the older houses in the streets near The Parish Church of St John the Baptist, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Ripe is about 5 miles west of Hailsham, in East Sussex. From houses to flats and shops in Ripe, the roof can be surveyed. Across East Sussex, we cover Ripe and the places around it. You can also see our page for Brighton.
Here we cover the BN8 postcode area for gutter surveys. Whether your property is on Carriage Mews, Channers Lane and Church Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. Other places close to Ripe include Selmeston (2 miles south), Wickstreet (2 miles south-east), Laughton (2 miles north), Golden Cross (2 miles north-east) and Berwick (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (8 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles east), Seaford (7 miles south), Lewes (6 miles west), Hailsham (5 miles east) and Crowborough (13 miles north).
Local landmarks in Ripe
We work in homes and buildings around Lamb Inn. The closest station to Ripe is Berwick (Sussex) station, about 2.2 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Hellingly Hospital Railway (5.1 miles east) and Museum of Agricultural Bygones (3 miles north-west). Open spaces near Ripe include Firle Beacon.