West Sussex · London and the South East
Avisford Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Avisford, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
Local roofs and buyers in Avisford
Avisford lies within about 4 miles of the sea, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Corroded clips and nails and lifted ridge pieces are typical of exposed roofs near the sea, which is worth knowing before you buy or pay for new work. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
For landlords with property near Barnham station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Avisford is about 4 miles north-west of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. Avisford is one of many places we visit across West Sussex. Avisford is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
All of BN18 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Binsted (1 mile east), Walberton (1 mile south-west), Slindon Common (1 mile north-west), Slindon (1 mile north-west) and West Barnham (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (9 miles east), Bognor Regis (5 miles south-west), Chichester (7 miles west), Selsey (11 miles south-west), Littlehampton (4 miles south-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (15 miles east).
Around Avisford
We work in homes and buildings around St Philip Howard Catholic High School, among other places. Avisford’s nearest station is Barnham station, roughly 1.7 miles south-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Arundel Castle (2.6 miles east) and Arundel and District Hospital (2.1 miles east). Open spaces near Avisford include Bignor Hill and WWT Arundel.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Avisford
A Basic Survey starts from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Choose the level that suits the home you are buying. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. Typical surveys look at gaps where slates or tiles have come loose and chimney mortar that has eroded, on chimney stacks, natural slate and clay and concrete tiles.
Older buildings in small places like Avisford may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you are buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- Avisford (BN18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Avisford
What else we do in Avisford
How the survey works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Rural addresses near Avisford can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Getting ready for the survey
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Booking a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Avisford?
Rear extensions, dormers and garages often have flat roofs. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and standing water, blisters and splits are typical signs of ageing. A buyer can easily miss them, especially when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
People usually book a survey after spotting something like this:
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Questions to ask before you book
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What exactly goes into their report
- What experience they bring
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
Avisford questions
How do I find out if my home in Avisford is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Avisford, take more of a battering?
It can do. Within about 4 miles of the sea, as Avisford is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photos.
Is Avisford in your area?
Yes, we do. Avisford is part of the area we cover, and the service is the same as everywhere else we work.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS home survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
What affects the price in Avisford
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Roof area
- Height and safe access
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
What we need to know
We will normally ask about:
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- The address and postcode of the property
- What’s prompted the survey
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Useful tips for Avisford property owners
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Check we’ll be able to get into the roof space
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. The photos show the defects and where they are, so each quote covers the same ground.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, especially after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
What this survey cannot tell you
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Avisford
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
Different roofs, different checks
Gutters and parapets
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter, normally to the back of the house. If the home you’re buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.
Natural slate
Older slate roofs frequently 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.