East Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Alciston
Wondering about the roof at a property in Alciston? You can book a pre-purchase roof survey in Alciston and across East Sussex, with plain-English findings.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Alciston
The roof is one of the most expensive parts of a home to repair, and one of the hardest for a buyer to see. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a proper look at it before you’re committed. We check the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, and the roof space where it’s safe to get in. You get a photo-illustrated written report. If you’ve noticed ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof and slipped or missing slates and tiles, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Some older homes in villages like Alciston are listed or sit in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you are buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later.
- Where
- Alciston (BN26)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
When we arrive, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you’d like to know. After that, we check everything we can see safely, from ground level, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where it applies. Most surveys take between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In a small place like Alciston, access is typically the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from each safe vantage point, inside and out.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Leave side gates unlocked
Booking a survey
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
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Places near Alciston
Other services in Alciston
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. We survey seven days a week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the survey around it.
Roof by roof
Clay and concrete tiles
Concrete interlocking tiles are common on post-war and newer homes. They wear slowly, but surfaces erode and edges crack.
Natural slate
Older slate roofs often have bitumen felt under them, and very old ones may have none. From inside the loft space, we report what we can see of it.
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. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Alciston: local notes
Alciston is within about 5 miles of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain. Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs, and the county’s older buildings include oast houses and Wealden hall houses. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
With Charleston Farmhouse about 1.3 miles north-west, the area around Alciston has a long history. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area. For landlords with property near Berwick (Sussex) station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer. The streets around a church such as The Parish Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Alciston is about 4 miles north of Seaford, in East Sussex. Alciston is one of many places we visit across East Sussex. We cover towns and villages across East Sussex, large and small. Brighton is in our area too.
We work across BN26 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Selmeston (1 mile north), Berwick (1 mile north-east), Winton (1 mile south-east), Alfriston (2 miles south-east) and Milton Street (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (7 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles east), Seaford (4 miles south), Lewes (7 miles north-west), Hailsham (6 miles north-east) and Crowborough (15 miles north).
Landmarks near Alciston
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Rose Cottage Inn. The closest station to Alciston is Berwick (Sussex) station, about 1.3 miles north-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Arlington Castle (1.7 miles south-east) and Chailey Heritage Marine Hospital (4.6 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Firle Beacon.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Alciston
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Alciston, take more of a battering?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Is Alciston within the area you cover?
Yes, Alciston is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if the building owner or managing agent agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
How do I book a survey in Alciston?
Simply call 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and that is where a roof survey helps. It isn’t a replacement for a RICS survey.
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
What a survey costs
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- The size of the roof
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
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.
Helping us price your survey
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- The property’s address and postcode
- When you need the report by
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. You will have a price before anything is arranged.