West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in East Ashling, West Sussex
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for East Ashling and the rest of West Sussex. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
When you need someone else
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will recommend the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
Pre-purchase roof survey in East Ashling
The best time to book is once your offer has been accepted and before you exchange contracts. That’s when the findings are most useful, because nothing is binding yet. Visits run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when the chain is moving fast. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Common reasons to book are gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and loose pots and cracked flaunching, across chimney stacks, gutters and downpipes and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
Somewhere as small as East Ashling, 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. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Where
- East Ashling (PO18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Buying a home or a new roof in East Ashling
East Ashling is within about 4 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Andrew are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. If you own a rental within reach of Bosham station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
East Ashling is about 3 miles north-west of Chichester, in West Sussex. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in East Ashling for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our West Sussex coverage includes East Ashling and the places around it. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: PO18. We also cover the places around East Ashling: West Ashling (1 mile west), West Stoke (1 mile north-east), Funtington (1 mile north-west), Broadbridge (2 miles south) and Hambrook (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (8 miles south-east), Chichester (3 miles south-east), Selsey (9 miles south), Littlehampton (14 miles east), Emsworth (4 miles west) and Rustington (15 miles east).
Around East Ashling
We work in homes and buildings around Bishop Luffa School and The Horse And Groom Public House and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Bosham station, about 1.4 miles south. Other landmarks nearby include Novium Museum (3 miles south-east) and Chichester Castle (3.1 miles south-east). Not far away are Stoke Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead flashings seal the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. We look for lead that has lifted, split or been patched over.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay plain tiles are common on older South East homes, and some still have peg tiles. Where pegs have rotted, tiles can slip, so we look for gaps along the courses.
What we are asked to look at in East Ashling
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and standing water, blisters and splits are typical signs of ageing. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, especially when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
With West Dean House about 4 miles north-east, the area around East Ashling has a long history. If you’re buying an older home nearby, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
What happens on the day
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings as a photo-illustrated written report, emailed to you. On timing, most surveys take between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Rural addresses near East Ashling can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- 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.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets in another room
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Getting a price
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Why act early in East Ashling
Small roof defects let water in slowly. Damp can spread into timbers and ceilings before anyone sees a mark. Finding the cause at the survey stage 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.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in East Ashling
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- PI and public liability insurance
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.
Nearby places to East Ashling
What else we do in East Ashling
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A lot can be seen 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.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
East Ashling: your questions answered
Is East Ashling within the area you cover?
Yes, East Ashling is covered. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Is my home in East Ashling listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It is a dedicated roof survey, and you get a written report with photos. It is not a RICS survey and does not cover the rest of the house.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Let us know which days suit you when booking.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It depends on the weather and the survey. Strong wind or a downpour can make access unsafe and ground a drone, so we’d move the date with you.
Do you need access inside the house?
Ideally, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. The agent or seller can arrange entry.