East Sussex · London and the South East
Boarshead Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Independent pre-purchase roof surveys in Boarshead. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
Pre-purchase roof survey in Boarshead: what you get
The roof is one of the most expensive parts of a home to repair, and one of the hardest for a buyer to see. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a careful look at it before you are committed. We look at the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, plus the loft where there’s safe access. You get a photo-illustrated written report. Typical surveys look at sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and gutters choked with leaves and moss, on natural slate, chimney stacks and clay and concrete tiles.
In a village or hamlet like Boarshead, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. 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. 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, with a note and a photo for each point. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Boarshead (TN6)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Boarshead
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can point to a problem that keeps coming back. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
We are often asked to look at:
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
If you let a flat or house near Eridge station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
What to check before booking
- What the survey won’t cover
- How soon the report will arrive
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
Checking the roof from the ground
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Roof by roof
Flat roofs
Many homes have a flat roof somewhere, often over an extension. Felt frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We look for signs of age and failure.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay plain tiles are common on older South East homes, and some still have peg tiles. Where pegs have rotted, tiles can slip.
Nearby places to Boarshead
What else we do in Boarshead
How the survey works
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Somewhere like Boarshead needs a little journey planning: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, inside and out.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- We email a report with photographs and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Booking a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
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Questions from Boarshead
Do you carry out roof surveys in Boarshead?
Yes, Boarshead is within the area we cover. We work right across London and South East England. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
How do I find out if my home in Boarshead is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
It is your choice, but the two do different jobs. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. You’ll have photos and a written description of each defect, which you can share with the seller or agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Mention it when you contact us and we will explain what’s needed.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
Honest limits
It is a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Boarshead
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Boarshead
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. About 3.3 miles north lies Groombridge Place, a reminder of how long the area around Boarshead has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
Boarshead is about 2 miles north-east of Crowborough, in East Sussex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Boarshead can all book pre-purchase roof surveys. Boarshead is one of the places in East Sussex where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. You can also see our page for Crawley.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in TN6 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Main roads around Boarshead include the A26. Close by, we survey roofs in Steel Cross (1 mile south), Jarvis Brook (1 mile south), Crowborough (2 miles south-west), Mott's Mill (2 miles north) and Marden's Hill (2 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Hailsham (15 miles south), Uckfield (8 miles south-west), South Malling (15 miles south-west), Heathfield (8 miles south), Upper Horsebridge (14 miles south) and Cliffe (15 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Boarshead
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Boars Head Inn and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Eridge station, roughly 1.4 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (1.8 miles south-west) and Bolebroke Castle (4.9 miles north-west). For a walk, there’s Crowborough Country Park.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Roof area
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 with VAT included. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Getting in touch
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- What’s prompted the survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.