West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Coldwaltham
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Coldwaltham, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
Why act early in Coldwaltham
Small roof defects let water in slowly. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Spotting it before you buy means you know about it from day one. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. We confirm the price for your roof before you book.
What you get with us
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- 98% of clients satisfied
- A written report with photos
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Coldwaltham
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, and the roof is only one part of it. Our survey is not a RICS survey, and it does not replace one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos of what we find and written recommendations. The two sit side by side if you want the fullest picture. If you’ve noticed lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on natural slate, lead flashings and valleys and gutters and downpipes alike.
Somewhere as small as Coldwaltham, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings frequently sit beside a few newer homes. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. 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.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Location
- Coldwaltham (RH20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Buying a home or a new roof in Coldwaltham
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
For landlords with property near Pulborough station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer. Old Place Manor, about 2 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Coldwaltham. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later. If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near The Parish Church of St Giles, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Coldwaltham is about 9 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in Coldwaltham and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Coldwaltham is one of the places in West Sussex where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. Brighton is in our area too.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in RH20 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Whether your property is on London Road, Old London Road and Silverdale or a nearby road, we can survey it. If you’re just outside Coldwaltham, we cover Watersfield (1 mile south-west), Hardham (1 mile north-east), Lower Horncroft (1 mile north-west), Coates (2 miles north-west) and Fittleworth (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns like Horsham (13 miles north-east), Worthing (10 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (12 miles south-west), Chichester (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (9 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles south-east).
Around Coldwaltham
We work in homes and buildings around The Labouring Man pub and Lodge Hill Residential Centre. The closest station to Coldwaltham is Pulborough station, roughly 1.8 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Amberley Museum (2.8 miles south) and Amberley Castle (2 miles south). The countryside around Coldwaltham includes Amberley Wildbrooks RSPB Reserve and Bignor Hill.
Towns and villages near Coldwaltham
More services for Coldwaltham
What you can safely check yourself
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry.
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll recommend the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. You are welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Older rural homes like those around Coldwaltham can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- We look at the roof from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Booking a survey
We confirm the price for the job before you book, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Coldwaltham: your questions answered
Will you come out to Coldwaltham?
Yes, Coldwaltham is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Is my home in Coldwaltham listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Where it is safe, yes. Much of the inspection is done from ground level, from windows and from the roof space. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Let us know which days suit you when booking.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
What if it rains on the day?
A survey can normally go ahead in light rain. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather isn’t suitable.
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Check we’ll be able to get into the loft space
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Let us know your exchange date when booking
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. The photos show the defects and where they are, which makes quotes easier to compare.
After strong winds, look at the roof from the ground. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Coldwaltham
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- How big the roof is
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Booking your survey
You do not need to know any roofing terms. Just let us know:
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The kind of building and roof involved
- What made you get in touch
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or email us.