West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Colwood, West Sussex
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Colwood, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Pre-purchase roof survey in Colwood
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, inc. VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where applicable and an in-person consultation. Pick the one that fits the property. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. Typical surveys look at chimney mortar that has eroded and blistered or split felt on a flat roof, on the roof space, natural slate and clay and concrete tiles.
Somewhere as small as Colwood, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings frequently sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, 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.
- Place
- Colwood (RH17)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlord and commercial surveys in Colwood
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Colwood and across West Sussex can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
FAQs for Colwood
Do you cover Colwood?
Yes, Colwood is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Colwood as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is Colwood within the area you cover?
Yes, Colwood is covered. We survey roofs across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and views from upper windows help too. Access is usually arranged through the agent or seller.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
Allow about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. We will give you an idea of timing as you book.
How soon is the report ready?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photographs.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and it’s 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.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
The survey, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes between one and two hours at a typical home, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. If you have questions on the day, just ask. In a hamlet or village like Colwood, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- 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.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Preparing for the visit
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Book a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Colwood
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
Tyes Place, about 3.4 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Colwood. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy. Whatever the street in Colwood, a roof costs least to look after when faults are caught early.
Colwood is about 5 miles north-west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. Bookings from Colwood are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Colwood is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work. For surveys nearby, see our Crawley page.
Surveys in RH17 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Earwig Lane and Cross Colwood Lane, and we cover them all. We also cover the places around Colwood: Crabtree (1 mile north-west), Lower Beeding (2 miles north-west), Slaugham (3 miles north), Plummers Plain (3 miles north) and Monk's Gate (3 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Crawley (8 miles north), Horsham (6 miles north-west), Worthing (15 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (6 miles east), Burgess Hill (5 miles south-east) and East Grinstead (13 miles north-east).
Around Colwood
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Leonardslee and the streets around them. Well-known places in the area include The Dene Hospital (3.8 miles south-east) and Cuckfield Museum (3.7 miles east). For a walk, there’s Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
What we look for on each type of roof
Natural slate
Older slate roofs often have bitumen felt under them, and very old ones may have none. Where we can see it from the loft, we say what condition it is in.
Clay and concrete tiles
Older homes in the South East frequently have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles on some. Where pegs have rotted, tiles can slip.
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before booking.
Booking your survey
There is no need for technical words. It’s enough to let us know:
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Tips that help
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Let us know your timetable
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Ask the agent to make sure the loft hatch can be opened
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
Every so frequently, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.