East Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Etchingwood, East Sussex
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Etchingwood. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Blocked or leaking gutters
Pre-purchase roof survey in Etchingwood: what you get
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 check the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, plus the loft where there’s safe access. You get a report with photographs. We survey natural slate, gutters and downpipes and the roof space, and the problems we are asked to look at most are loose pots and cracked flaunching and damp timbers or stains in the loft.
For a small place like Etchingwood, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Etchingwood (TN22)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
A lot can be seen from ground level. 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.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and the South East have slate roofs. We look for slates that have slid, cracked or gone, and for clips or tingles that show past repairs.
Clay and concrete tiles
Tiled roofs often last half a century or longer. Cracked, slipped or missing tiles are noted, along with odd replacement tiles that hint at earlier leaks.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Getting in touch
There’s no need for technical words. It’s enough to tell us:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- The property’s address and postcode
- What made you get in touch
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
We confirm the price for your roof before booking, so you know the cost up front. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Etchingwood: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Etchingwood 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.
Do you cover Etchingwood?
Yes, Etchingwood is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and South East England. You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a few details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
When will the report arrive?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email, with photos.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain is typically fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In strong wind or a downpour, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
It typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we cannot promise any saving.
What we do, step by step
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. In a hamlet or village like Etchingwood, 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’re buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
How to prepare
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Let us know about parking before the day
Book a survey
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Advice
When you need someone else
It is useful to know what a survey will not do before you book:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
Also near Etchingwood
Other services in Etchingwood
Local roofs and buyers in Etchingwood
If your home is older, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs, and the county’s older buildings include oast houses and Wealden hall houses. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary the Virgin, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. Landlords with a home close to Buxted station may find that it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Etchingwood is about 2 miles north-east of Uckfield, in East Sussex. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Etchingwood. We cover towns and villages across East Sussex, large and small. There’s also a page for Brighton.
Every address in TN22 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you are just outside Etchingwood, we cover Potter's Green (1 mile north-west), Buxted (1 mile north-west), Framfield (1 mile south-west), Blackboys (1 mile south-east) and Hadlow Down (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (15 miles south-east), Seaford (14 miles south), Lewes (10 miles south-west), Hailsham (9 miles south-east), Crowborough (5 miles north) and Newhaven (14 miles south).
What’s near Etchingwood
In Etchingwood, that means homes and buildings near The Buxted Inn. Etchingwood’s nearest station is Buxted station, about 0.9 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include Uckfield Community Hospital (2.2 miles south-west) and Tickerage Castle (0.9 miles south). Not far away are Selwyns Wood.
For landlords and managing agents
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photographs included.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Etchingwood. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.