West Sussex · London and the South East
Gutter survey in West Dean, West Sussex
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes for West Dean and the rest of West Sussex. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
- Sagging gutters and loose brackets
- Leaks at the gutter joints
- Water backing up from a hidden gutter
What we can’t see
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- The inside of a downpipe along its whole length
- Underground drains, which need a CCTV drain survey
- Confirming asbestos in older rainwater goods
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Parapet and box gutters
- Fascias and soffits
- Valley gutters
- Outlets and hoppers
- Downpipes
- Eaves gutters
How a gutter survey works in West Dean
Gutters are usually fixed to fascia boards, so we check the fascias and soffits too. 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. We survey fascias and soffits, downpipes and eaves gutters, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are leaking or loose downpipes and rotten fascias or stained soffits.
Some older homes in villages like West Dean are listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- West Dean (PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
West Dean homes and their roofs
Older houses across Sussex frequently have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. With West Dean House about 0.1 miles north-east, West Dean sits in an area with a long building history. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as West Dean CofE Primary School, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale. If you let a flat or house near Fishbourne station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
West Dean is about 4 miles north of Chichester, in West Sussex. Bookings from West Dean are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. West Dean is one of the places in West Sussex we cover for gutter surveys. There’s also a page for Portsmouth.
Postcode districts we cover here for gutter surveys: PO18. Nearby, we also carry out gutter surveys in Singleton (1 mile east), Charlton (2 miles east), East Dean (3 miles east), Cocking (3 miles north) and Bepton (4 miles north). Further out, we also cover Bognor Regis (9 miles south-east), Chichester (4 miles south), Selsey (12 miles south), Littlehampton (13 miles south-east), Emsworth (8 miles south-west) and Rustington (13 miles south-east).
Landmarks near West Dean
West Dean’s nearest station is Fishbourne station, roughly 4.8 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Chichester Castle (4.5 miles south) and Museum of Gardening (within half a mile north-east). Not far away are Levin Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
How the survey works
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 typically takes about 1–2 hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. Older roofs in small places like West Dean can have low, tight loft spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- First, you tell us what you’ve seen, such as overflows or damp.
- Gutters, downpipes, fascias and soffits are inspected from safe vantage points.
- We check hidden gutters, like valleys and parapets, where it is safe to see them.
- The loft space is checked for water marks if it is safe to get into.
- We send a written report with photos and clear recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
How to book
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
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Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photos included.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in West Dean. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What we are asked to look at in West Dean
Lots of tiled and slate roofs carry moss, and rain washes it down into the gutters. Mixed with grit from the roof, it settles as silt that slows the flow and gives plants somewhere to grow.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Overflowing valley or parapet gutters
- Blocked outlets and hoppers
- Leaves and moss blocking gutters
- Leaks at the gutter joints
For an older house near a landmark such as 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.
Questions to ask before booking
- How soon the report will arrive
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Their track record with similar roofs
- What happens after the report arrives
Why it is worth a survey now in West Dean
Clearing gutters removes the debris, but it does not tell you why a gutter overflows. We also check the falls, joints, brackets, outlets and downpipes to show whether something else is wrong. Older cottages and farmhouses around West Dean can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why us?
- An independent look at the roof
- Every finding written up with photos
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Other services in West Dean
What affects the price in West Dean
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The size of the roof
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, including VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Getting in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- Anything about access we should know
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- The kind of building and roof involved
- The address and postcode of the property
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Common questions in West Dean
Does a conservation area affect roof work in West Dean?
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 Fishbourne station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Is West Dean in your area?
Yes. West Dean is part of the area we cover, and the service is the same as everywhere else we work.
Does someone need to be in?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you when you book.
Is a Saturday or Sunday visit possible?
Yes, we carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays as well as weekdays. To book, call 07833 053749 or email us.
What’s in the report?
A written report with photos, explaining the condition of the gutter, any defects and our recommendations. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
Will you check if gutters are causing damp inside?
Overflowing gutters often lead to damp walls, and we check for exactly that. If the cause looks like something else, the report says so as far as we can tell from what’s visible.