West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Crawley, West Sussex
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat around Crawley, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
Landlords, agents and block managers in Crawley
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out with the most urgent first where relevant.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Crawley
The roof is one of the most expensive parts of a home to repair, and one of the hardest for a buyer to see. A pre-purchase roof survey looks at it closely before you are tied in. We look at the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, and the roof space where it is safe to get in. You get a written report with photographs. We are often asked to look into gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and quick fixes on flashings and valleys, on chimney stacks, lead flashings and valleys and the roof space.
Buying in a busy place like Crawley can mean moving fast, and a roof is easy to overlook on a viewing. A new or replacement roof can also look neat from the pavement and still have snags at ridges, valleys or flashings. A close look before you commit, to a purchase or to the final payment, gives you something in writing to raise.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Crawley (RH10, RH11, RH12, RH6)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Buying a home or a new roof in Crawley
In Sussex, older roofs are frequently handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest. Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Friary Church of St Francis and St Anthony, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Crawley is about 27 miles south of London, in West Sussex. Surveys in Crawley work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, large and small.
Every address in RH10, RH11, RH12 and RH6 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Station Road, Queens Square and High Street or a nearby road, we can help. You’ll find Crawley on the A23 and A264, so it is easy for us to get to. Close by, we survey roofs in Southgate (1 mile south-west), Tilgate (1 mile south-east), West Green (1 mile north), Three Bridges (1 mile east) and Langley Green (1 mile north). We also work in nearby towns like Horsham (7 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (9 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (11 miles south), East Grinstead (8 miles east), Billingshurst (13 miles south-west) and Roffey (5 miles south-west). As one of the bigger places in West Sussex, Crawley has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind.
Local landmarks in Crawley
In Crawley, that means homes and buildings near Tilgate Park, St Wilfrid's Catholic School and St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School and the streets around them. Crawley has its own railway station: Crawley station. Nearby you’ll also find Crawley Hospital (0.5 miles north-west) and County Mall (under half a mile north-east). For a walk, there’s Tilgate Lake.
How the survey changes by roof type
Natural slate
Good slate is one of the longest-lasting roof coverings, yet the nails that fix it frequently give out first. When slates start to slip, corroded nails are often the reason, and we note how widespread it looks.
Flat roofs
Ponding, blistering, splits and worn upstands are the usual warning signs. We check outlets too, since a blocked one leaves water sitting on the roof.
Why get it checked now?
Once you exchange, the roof’s problems become yours. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but with far less room to act on them. In flats, shops and offices in Crawley, a roof leak can reach more than one floor before it shows, where it damages ceilings, insulation and anything stored underneath. The earlier the cause is found, the smaller the job.
For a price for your roof in Crawley, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why book with us
- An independent look at the roof
- A report with photos
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Surveys seven days a week
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or our case studies.
Other services in Crawley
FAQs for Crawley
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Crawley?
The answer turns on the exact location and the conditions on the day. The flight restriction zone around Gatwick Airport covers Crawley, or comes right up to its edge. We ask the airport for permission before flying there, and only fly if it’s given. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying, and the rest of the survey does not depend on the drone.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Crawley?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it is safe to do so. We inspect from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where applicable.
How long does the survey visit take?
Allow roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. We will give you an idea of timing when booking.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain doesn’t normally stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we will agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
What’s the best way to book?
The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Give us the address and some details about the roof, and we will take it from there. Surveys run seven days a week.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a dedicated roof survey, with a written report and photographs. It is not a RICS survey and doesn’t cover the rest of the house.
What we can’t see
It is useful to know what a survey will not do before you book:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Asbestos testing of any kind
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
Common roof problems in Crawley
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that isn’t obvious at first. Overflowing water soaks walls and can rot the timber behind. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. They’re part of what we check.
People typically book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
For landlords with property near Crawley station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. If you have questions on the day, just ask. In busier parts of Crawley, parking can be tight, so tell us about driveways, permits or nearby car parks. On the day, we look at the roof from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Getting a price
For a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Crawley, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.