East Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Birchett's Green
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Birchett's Green, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Birchett's Green
Older homes frequently have roofs that have been patched over the years. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Most of it can’t be seen from the street. We look closely and record what we see, with photos so you can see it for yourself. We explain each finding in plain English, so you know what it means for the house you are buying. We survey the roof space, clay and concrete tiles and gutters and downpipes, and people most frequently book us about sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs.
Some older homes in villages like Birchett's Green are listed or sit in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you are buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Where
- Birchett's Green (TN5)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Birchett's Green
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Birchett's Green?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s 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.
Is Birchett's Green in the area you cover?
Yes, Birchett's Green is within the area we cover. We work right across London and South East England. Just phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
When will the report arrive?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photos.
Are you insured?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we cannot promise any saving.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find.
When to book a survey in Birchett's Green
Chimneys take the worst of the weather. 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.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
The streets around a church like Shover's Green Baptist Chapel are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Are they insured for the work?
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What the survey won’t cover
Useful tips for Birchett's Green property owners
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Check we’ll be able to get into the loft space
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up to see how things have changed.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
Places near Birchett's Green
Other services in Birchett's Green
Honest limits
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Asbestos testing of any kind
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will suggest the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Birchett's Green
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Birchett's Green
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. About 2 miles west lies Wadhurst Castle, a reminder of how long the area around Birchett's Green has been built on. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you own a rental within reach of Stonegate station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Birchett's Green is about 7 miles south-east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in East Sussex. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Birchett's Green for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Maidstone.
Surveys in TN5 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you are just outside Birchett's Green, we cover Wallcrouch (1 mile south), Shover's Green (1 mile south-west), Cousley Wood (2 miles north-west), Pell Green (2 miles north-west) and Stonegate (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Hastings (15 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (15 miles south), Hailsham (14 miles south), Crowborough (9 miles west), Uckfield (13 miles south-west) and Heathfield (8 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Birchett's Green
Birchett's Green’s nearest station is Stonegate station, roughly 2.6 miles south of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Finchcocks Musical Museum (3.8 miles north-east) and Ticehurst House Hospital (1.1 miles south-east). The countryside around Birchett's Green includes Bewl Water.
What happens on the day
You do not need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a small place like Birchett's Green, access is usually the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before the survey
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Tell us about parking before the day
Arrange a survey
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we will ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Advice
Checking the roof from ground level
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Roof by roof
Chimney stacks
Leaning stacks, loose pots and eroded mortar are common findings. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. We look for lead that has lifted, split or been patched over.