West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Church Norton, West Sussex
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Church Norton, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
The survey, step by step
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit normally takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a hamlet or village like Church Norton, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, 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.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- 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.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Preparing for the visit
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Booking a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Church Norton
Some roofs cannot be seen well from ground level or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where it applies, a drone inspection, and the report arrives the same day. Where a flight is not possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and look from ground level, windows and the loft instead. We survey clay and concrete tiles, the roof space and gutters and downpipes, and people most often book us about bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and gutters choked with leaves and moss.
Some older homes in villages like Church Norton are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it is worth knowing which applies, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Location
- Church Norton (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Church Norton
Is the coastal weather around Church Norton hard on roofs?
It can do. Church Norton is within about 1 mile of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Church Norton?
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. 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.
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 photographs.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is normally arranged through the agent or seller.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
For landlords and managing agents
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Landlords and agents in Church Norton book surveys as well as homeowners. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof.
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
Nearby places to Church Norton
Other services in Church Norton
Can I check my roof myself?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Church Norton homes and their roofs
Church Norton lies within about 1 mile of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so the council is the place to ask.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near St Wilfrid's Chapel, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Church Norton is about 1 mile north-east of Selsey, in West Sussex. We visit Church Norton as part of our work across West Sussex, for homes and businesses alike. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
Surveys in PO20 are booked the same way as anywhere else. That includes homes and businesses on Grange Lane and Rectory Lane. If you are just outside Church Norton, we cover Selsey (1 mile south-west), Keynor Estate (2 miles north-west), Pagham (2 miles north-east), Sidlesham (2 miles north) and Nyetimber (2 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Bognor Regis (5 miles north-east), Chichester (6 miles north), Littlehampton (11 miles east), Emsworth (10 miles north-west), Rustington (12 miles east) and Angmering (14 miles north-east).
What’s near Church Norton
For rail, the closest station is Bognor Regis station, roughly 4.9 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Selsey Lifeboat Museum (1.5 miles south) and Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital (5.1 miles north-east).
Common roof problems in Church Norton
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. A buyer can easily miss them, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
Problems we come across often include:
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
Landlords with a home close to Bognor Regis station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- What follow-up you get after the report
- What experience they bring
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- What they won’t be able to tell you
Useful tips for Church Norton property owners
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Request records of any re-roofing
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Every so often, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Damp patches, daylight through the roof or water stains on timbers are worth noting. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.