West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Alfold Bars
A careful look at the roof at your property in Alfold Bars, and put it all in a report with photos.
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Alfold Bars
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where applicable and a same-day report. Pick the one that fits the property. All three include a written report with photos and recommendations. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, the roof space and clay and concrete tiles, and the problems we are asked to look at most are lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging.
For a small place like Alfold Bars, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked seven days a week.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photos show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Where
- Alfold Bars (RH14)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
You may want to pass the report to your solicitor or conveyancer so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Alfold Bars: local notes
Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For any home in Alfold Bars, it is the small, early fault that is cheapest to put right.
Alfold Bars is about 9 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. If you’re in Alfold Bars, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Alfold Bars is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. Guildford is in our area too.
We cover every part of RH14 for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Pigbush Lane and Oakhurst Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Alfold (1 mile north), Loxwood (1 mile south), Ifold (2 miles south-west), Plaistow (2 miles south-west) and Durfold Wood (3 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (14 miles east), Horsham (9 miles east), Broadfield (14 miles east), Storrington (12 miles south), Billingshurst (6 miles south-east) and Bewbush (13 miles east).
Near you in Alfold Bars
In Alfold Bars, that means homes and buildings near The Crown pub and Fir Tree Copse, among other places. The countryside around Alfold Bars includes Shillinglee Lake.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and the South East. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and missing lead is not unknown, as it’s a target for thieves.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay and concrete tiles commonly last 50 years or more. Cracked, slipped or missing tiles are noted, and for mismatched replacements that point to past repairs.
Nearby places to Alfold Bars
Also in Alfold Bars
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, photographs included.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters.
What happens on the day
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. Around Alfold Bars, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed ahead of time.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Before we arrive
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Booking a survey
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Alfold Bars, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us give you an accurate price.
Related advice
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Alfold Bars?
A chimney stack stands out in the wind and rain. Pointing crumbles, flaunching cracks and flashings lift. A stack may be shared with the neighbours, which matters if work is needed.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Blocked or leaking gutters
The streets around a church such as Church of St Nicholas 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 frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
What to check before booking
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- What happens after the report arrives
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- What insurance they carry
What this survey can’t tell you
No survey can tell you everything, and it’s better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we check
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
Alfold Bars questions
Is Alfold Bars within the area you cover?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Is my home in Alfold Bars listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. It is a dedicated roof survey, and you get a written report with photos. It is not a RICS survey and doesn’t cover the rest of the house.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
What’s the best way to book?
Just phone 07833 053749 or email us. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it is applicable. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.