London and the South East

Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in West Sussex

Wherever you are in West Sussex, we can carry out pre-purchase roof surveys. Clear prices including VAT, and surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Pre-Purchase Roof Survey across West Sussex

Call 07833 053749

Book a survey

Where we work in West Sussex

A roof survey before you buy a house or flat. Find your town in the lists below for local details, or call 07833 053749 to book.

Main towns

What else we do in West Sussex

Postcode areas we cover

Pre-purchase roof survey in West Sussex: how it works

Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. We look closely and record what we see, with photos that show you exactly where. We explain each finding in plain English, so it’s clear what it means for your purchase. We survey natural slate, gutters and downpipes and flat-roofed extensions and dormers, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are chimney mortar that has eroded and ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof.

Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit usually takes an hour or two on an ordinary house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours.

You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, inside and out.
Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.

What you will pay

Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.

Why book with us

Every finding written up with photos
Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Package prices that include VAT
Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID

Booking a survey

To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in West Sussex, phone 07833 053749 or email us. The address, the type of property and what you’d like to know help us give you an accurate price.

Landmarks near Crawley

Typical jobs here are in homes near Friary Church of St Francis and St Anthony, St Wilfrid's Catholic School and Tilgate Park, among other places. Nearby too are The George Hotel (within half a mile north), Three Bridges Junior School (less than half a mile south-east) and St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School (less than half a mile south-east). There’s a railway station in Crawley itself: Crawley station. A little further out are Crawley Hospital (0.5 miles north-west) and County Mall (within half a mile north-east). The countryside around Crawley includes Tilgate Lake.

Pre-purchase roof surveys across West Sussex: local notes

Roofs on homes across West Sussex range from old slate and clay to modern concrete tiles. For a purchase or a new roof, the materials and the age of the work shape what we look at.

We survey roofs across London and the South East, and West Sussex is part of that. London and South East England have homes from every era, from period terraces to post-war new towns and new estates. Near the sea in West Sussex, roofs face stronger wind and salt-laden air, which wears metal fixings and flashings faster. After a storm, the seaward side of a roof is the place to look first.

Crawley: Take an older house close to Friary Church of St Francis and St Anthony: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. If you let a flat or house near Crawley station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.

Rented homes, blocks and businesses

For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.

We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photos, which helps you plan work between tenancies.

Before and after the survey

These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:

Book once your offer is accepted
Request records of any re-roofing
Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof

If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller.

Do not block the vents at the eaves. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.

What a survey costs

Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:

Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
Roof area
How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets

There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.

What to let us know when you get in touch

Before you get in touch, it’s useful to have:

Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
Anything about access we should know
Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
Where water is showing inside, if it is

Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or email us, let us know about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.

Different roofs, different checks

Lead flashings and valleys

Flashings are a common source of leaks, so they get close attention in a pre-purchase survey. We photograph any that need work.

Clay and concrete tiles

Older homes in the South East often have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles on some. Rotten pegs let tiles slide.

Honest limits

Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:

Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
Whether timbers meet design loads
Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers

Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in West Sussex

When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?

Book as soon as your offer is agreed. You need the report before you exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.

Can you survey a shared roof?

Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.

How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?

It usually takes between one and two hours at most homes, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.

How do I book a survey in West Sussex?

The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. Give us the address and some details about the roof, and we will take it from there. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Do you use drones?

Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.

How experienced are you?

We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, over more than 20 years, with 98% customer satisfaction.

Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?

We survey seven days a week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Let us know which days suit you as you book.