East Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Alfriston
Not sure what state the roof is in? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Alfriston and across East Sussex.
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Alfriston
A full home survey looks at the whole property, and the roof is only one part of it. We do not offer a RICS home survey, and ours isn’t a substitute for one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. You can have both if you want the fullest picture. We are often asked to look into gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and a ridge or slope that dips, on clay and concrete tiles, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and lead flashings and valleys.
In a village or hamlet like Alfriston, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Location
- Alfriston (BN26)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens if roof problems are left?
After exchange, any roof defect is yours to deal with. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but too late to use them in the purchase. In a place like Alfriston, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
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 choose Independent Roof Survey in Alfriston
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- An independent view of the roof
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
Take a look at our cost guide and our case studies.
What this survey cannot tell you
A survey is a careful look at the roof, but it can’t do everything. Its limits include:
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
What we’re asked to look at in Alfriston
Chimneys take the worst of the weather and they’re often the least maintained part of a roof. Mortar erodes, the flaunching around the pots cracks and the flashings work loose. A stack may be shared with the neighbours, which can affect how any work is arranged.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
The streets around a church such as Church of St. Andrew are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Before booking anyone
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- How soon the report will arrive
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
The survey, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. You’re welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Older roofs in small places like Alfriston can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- We agree a time and how we will get in, including the loft.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, inside and out.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Preparing for the visit
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Find any records of previous roof work
Getting a price
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Alfriston, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Some details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Related advice
Roof by roof
Gutters and parapets
The rainwater system keeps water off the walls. Leaking joints, sagging lengths and blockages are all noted, along with fascias and soffits.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and South East England. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and missing lead is not unknown, as it is a target for thieves.
Common questions in Alfriston
Will you come out to Alfriston?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Alfriston?
It can do. Alfriston is within about 4 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
How quickly will I get the report?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Let us know your timetable when you book.
Do I need to be at home?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We’ll talk about access when booking.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll explain what’s needed.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Alfriston
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Places near Alfriston
Also in Alfriston
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Alfriston: local notes
Alfriston is within about 4 miles of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. About 0.2 miles south-east lies Alfriston Clergy House, a reminder of how long the area around Alfriston has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Landlords with a home close to Berwick (Sussex) station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Alfriston is about 3 miles north-east of Seaford, in East Sussex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Alfriston can all book pre-purchase roof surveys. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex. There’s also a page for Brighton.
We survey roofs across BN26 for pre-purchase roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on High Street, Ropewalk and West Street. Close by, we survey roofs in Winton (1 mile north), Lullington (1 mile south-east), Dukes Green (1 mile south), Milton Street (1 mile north-east) and Alciston (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (6 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles east), Seaford (3 miles south-west), Lewes (8 miles north-west), Hailsham (6 miles north-east) and Uckfield (11 miles north).
Landmarks near Alfriston
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Ye Olde Smugglers Inn. Alfriston’s nearest station is Berwick (Sussex) station, about 2.2 miles north. A little further out are Old Forge Museum (Alfriston) (under half a mile north-east) and Chailey Heritage Marine Hospital (4.2 miles south-west). The countryside around Alfriston includes Firle Beacon.