East Sussex · London and the South East
Barcombe Mills Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Barcombe Mills, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
For landlords and managing agents
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Barcombe Mills
A full home survey looks at the whole property, so the roof is one item among many. Our survey isn’t a RICS survey, and it doesn’t replace one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photographs of what we find and written recommendations. You can have both if you want the fullest picture. We are frequently asked to look into patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem and chimney mortar that has eroded, across gutters and downpipes, natural slate and clay and concrete tiles.
Being in a small place like Barcombe Mills makes no difference to the inspection itself: 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, so the visit can be planned around them. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked seven days a week.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Barcombe Mills (BN8)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Barcombe Mills: your questions answered
Is my home in Barcombe Mills listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover smaller places like Barcombe Mills?
Yes, Barcombe Mills is covered. We work right across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach.
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 works alongside a home survey.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
The visit normally takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Let us know your timetable
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Book once your offer is accepted
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, so each quote covers the same ground.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.
Also near Barcombe Mills
Also in Barcombe Mills
What happens if roof problems are left?
A seller may honestly not know the state of the roof. The forms they complete only show what they’re aware of. An independent look tells you how the roof is now. Around Barcombe Mills, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
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.
What you get with us
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Over 20 years’ experience
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
Read what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
The survey, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. Most visits take about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a small place like Barcombe Mills, access is normally the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Book a survey
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Read more
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Barcombe Mills: local notes
Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Glyndebourne, about 3 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Barcombe Mills. If you are buying an older home nearby, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing. For an older house near a landmark like The Parish Church of St Mary, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. Landlords with a home close to Cooksbridge station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Barcombe Mills is about 3 miles north-east of Lewes, in East Sussex. Barcombe Mills is one of many places we visit across East Sussex, for homes and businesses alike. Barcombe Mills is one of the places in East Sussex where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. You can also see our page for Brighton.
Every address in BN8 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you are just outside Barcombe Mills, we cover Barcombe (1 mile west), Barcombe Cross (1 mile north-west), Upper Wellingham (1 mile south), Mount Pleasant (1 mile north) and Norlington (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Eastbourne (14 miles south-east), Seaford (10 miles south), Lewes (3 miles south-west), Hailsham (10 miles east), Crowborough (11 miles north-east) and Uckfield (5 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Barcombe Mills
In Barcombe Mills, that means homes and buildings near Anglers Rest pub and Ringmer Community College and Sixth Form, among other places. The closest station to Barcombe Mills is Cooksbridge station, about 2 miles south-west of the centre. A little further out are Lewes Castle (3.2 miles south) and Museum of Agricultural Bygones (2.9 miles south-east). Not far away are Cliffe Hill and Malling Down.
What we can’t see
Every survey has limits, and it’s better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
Can I check my roof myself?
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when booking, as it helps us focus the survey.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.