East Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Duddleswell
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Duddleswell, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Flashings that have lifted or split
Duddleswell homes and their roofs
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand.
Whatever the street in Duddleswell, a roof costs least to look after when faults are caught early. If you own a rental within reach of Buxted station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Duddleswell is about 3 miles west of Crowborough, in East Sussex. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Duddleswell for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Duddleswell is one of the places in East Sussex where we work. We also survey roofs in Crawley.
We cover every part of TN22 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Other places close to Duddleswell include Nutley (2 miles west), Horney Common (2 miles south), Chelwood Gate (3 miles west), Chelwood Common (3 miles west) and Wych Cross (3 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Lewes (12 miles south), Hailsham (14 miles south-east), Crowborough (3 miles east), Uckfield (5 miles south), South Malling (12 miles south) and Heathfield (9 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Duddleswell
The nearest railway station is Buxted station, about 3.8 miles south-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (3 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Brickfield Meadow.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Duddleswell
Some roofs can’t be seen well from the ground or from windows. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where applicable, and the report arrives the same day. Where a flight isn’t possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and inspect from every other safe vantage point. Typical surveys look at quick fixes on flashings and valleys and old water stains in the roof space, on clay and concrete tiles, gutters and downpipes and the roof space.
Somewhere as small as Duddleswell, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- Duddleswell (TN22)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Duddleswell: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Duddleswell?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Duddleswell?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and Duddleswell is part of that. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
Allow between one and two hours on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. We’ll give you an idea of timing when booking.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. It’s a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, and you get a written report with photos. It doesn’t cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Does the weather affect the survey?
A survey can typically go ahead in light rain, 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 if conditions are not right we’ll arrange another day with you.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Before and after the survey
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
It’s worth sharing the report with your solicitor so questions can go to the seller’s solicitor. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Leaving it means judging the roof from the street. That rarely shows the back slope, the valleys or the top of the chimney. We fill that gap before you are tied in. Older cottages and farmhouses around Duddleswell can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
What you get with us
- Every finding written up with photos
- Surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
See what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual one, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. We will say if the flue needs a specialist.
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails that fix it frequently give out first. When slates start to slip, corroded nails are frequently the reason.
Towns and villages near Duddleswell
More services for Duddleswell
DIY checks: what’s safe
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Duddleswell
Landlords, agents and building managers in Duddleswell and across East Sussex can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer.
The survey, step by step
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. For a village or hamlet like Duddleswell, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- 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’s safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Book a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.