West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Barns Green
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Barns Green, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Barns Green
With a written roof report, you can go back to the seller or agent with specifics. You can ask about the roof’s history, ask for repairs before completion or rethink the price. We cannot say how a seller will respond, but you’ll be asking from facts rather than guesses. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. Common reasons to book are bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and old water stains in the roof space, across the roof space, chimney stacks and clay and concrete tiles.
Somewhere as small as Barns Green, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid, 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.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Barns Green (RH13)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photographs as we go and make notes for the report. Most visits take about 1–2 hours at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Around Barns Green, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it is safe.
- 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.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
How to prepare
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Arrange a survey
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and give us a few details about the property and we will explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Related advice
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 whether there are papers for past roof work
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
Your report arrives by email, with photographs of what we found. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Each defect is explained in plain words, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air can’t flow.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Barns Green
To price your survey, we check:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, with VAT included. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Helping us price your survey
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Barns Green?
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but corroded nails let slates slip. That kind of wear is common on older roofs.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
For landlords with property near Christs Hospital station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Before booking anyone
- What happens after the report arrives
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Whether VAT is added on top
What we look for on each type of roof
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.
Flat roofs
Ponding, blistering, splits and worn upstands are the usual warning signs. Blocked outlets are checked as well, and we say what we see from wherever is safe.
Places near Barns Green
What else we do in Barns Green
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Barns Green
What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, ideally before any re-roofing is planned. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For any home in Barns Green, it is the small, early fault that is cheapest to put right.
Barns Green is about 4 miles south-west of Horsham, in West Sussex. Barns Green gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Across West Sussex, we cover Barns Green and the places around it. You can also see our page for Crawley.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in RH13 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You’ll find streets like The Hordens, Smugglers Way and Finians Field, and we cover them all. We also cover Brooks Green (1 mile south), Itchingfield (1 mile north), Southwater (2 miles east), Tower Hill (3 miles north-east) and Broadbridge Heath (3 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (10 miles north-east), Worthing (14 miles south), Haywards Heath (13 miles east), Burgess Hill (13 miles south-east), Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles south) and Lancing (14 miles south).
What’s near Barns Green
In Barns Green, that means homes and buildings near The Queen's Head Public House and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Christs Hospital station, about 1.9 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Horsham Hospital (4 miles north-east) and Christs Hospital School Museum (1.6 miles north-east). For a walk, there’s Knepp Wildland.
Barns Green: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like Barns Green?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Barns Green?
Yes. Our area covers London and the South East, and Barns Green is part of that. Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it applies and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It’s your choice, but the two do different jobs. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and does not replace one.
How long does the survey visit take?
Allow about 1–2 hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. We will give you an idea of timing when you book.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In strong wind or heavy rain, a drone can’t fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
Why it is worth a survey now in Barns Green
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 with far less room to act on them. In a small place like Barns Green, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Every price we give includes VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You will know the exact price before you book.
Why book with us
- Surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Clear package prices, with VAT included
See our cost guide or our case studies.