West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Donnington, West Sussex
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat across Donnington, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
Before and after the survey
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Let us know your timetable
- Share the report with your solicitor
With the findings in hand, you can talk to the seller or their agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller, and we can’t promise any result.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Donnington
Some roofs cannot be seen well from ground level or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, 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 the ground, windows and the loft instead. Typical surveys look at loose pots and cracked flaunching and slipped or missing slates and tiles, on lead flashings and valleys, clay and concrete tiles and gutters and downpipes.
Older buildings in small places like Donnington may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Donnington (PO20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we cannot see
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
How the survey changes by roof type
Clay and concrete tiles
Many post-war houses have concrete interlocking tiles. They’re heavy and hard-wearing, but they weather and can crack.
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and South East England have slate roofs. We look for slates that have slid, cracked or gone, plus the metal clips that show earlier patching.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Donnington: local notes
Donnington is within about 3 miles of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For an older house near a landmark such as The Parish Church of St George, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming. For landlords with property near Chichester station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in. Goodwood House lies about 4.8 miles north-east, so building around Donnington goes back a long way. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Donnington is about 2 miles south of Chichester, in West Sussex. Whether the building in Donnington is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed. Donnington is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work. Our Portsmouth page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in PO20 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You’ll find Donnington on the B2201, so it’s easy for us to get to. We also cover Hunston (1 mile east), North Mundham (1 mile east), Runcton (2 miles east), Chichester (2 miles north) and Portfield (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (5 miles east), Selsey (5 miles south), Littlehampton (11 miles east), Emsworth (7 miles north-west), Rustington (12 miles east) and Angmering (14 miles east).
Near you in Donnington
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Blacksmith's Arms Public House. For rail, the closest station is Chichester station, roughly 1.6 miles north. Nearby you will also find Chichester Cathedral Treasury (1.8 miles north) and St Richard's Hospital (2.5 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Nutborne Marshes.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Donnington
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
Landlords and agents in Donnington book surveys as well as householders. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the roof, useful for planning maintenance.
Checking the roof from the ground
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Also near Donnington
What else we do in Donnington
Common questions in Donnington
Will you come out to Donnington?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
How do I find out if my home in Donnington is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain is typically fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In strong wind or heavy rain, a drone can’t fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
How long does the survey visit take?
It usually takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
They do different things. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and doesn’t replace one.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. Much of the inspection is done from ground level, from windows and from the loft space. On Premium, a drone is used where applicable.
What happens on the day
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a written report with photos, sent to you by email. On timing, most surveys take between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Around Donnington, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it is safe.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed ahead of time.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Book a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.