East Sussex · London and the South East
Five Ash Down Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Five Ash Down, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
How it works
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings as a report with photographs, sent to you by email. As for time on site, most surveys take an hour or two at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Somewhere like Five Ash Down needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect what can be seen safely, inside and out.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- You get a written report with photographs and recommendations before you exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
How to book
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Advice
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Five Ash Down
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Most of it cannot be seen from the street. We look closely and record what we see, with photos so you can see it for yourself. Each finding is explained in plain words, so it is clear what it means for your purchase. If you’ve noticed gaps where slates or tiles have come loose and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Being in a small place like Five Ash Down makes no difference to the inspection itself: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed beforehand. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them as you book. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Location
- Five Ash Down (TN22)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We say when the covering would need opening up to know more.
Chimney stacks
A leaning stack, cracked flaunching or crumbling pointing can all need work. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
DIY checks: what’s safe
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
What we’re asked to look at in Five Ash Down
Chimneys take the worst of the weather and they’re often the least maintained part of a roof. Mortar erodes, the flaunching around the pots cracks and the flashings work loose. A stack may be shared with the neighbours, which can affect how any work is arranged.
We’re frequently asked to look at:
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
If you own a rental within reach of Buxted station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Questions to ask before you book
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What the survey won’t cover
- Will the report include photos?
- Is VAT included in the price?
Surveys for landlords and agents in Five Ash Down
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed in advance. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A mortgage valuation is not a roof survey. It looks at whether the property is suitable security for the loan, and it won’t look closely at the roof. A roof survey is carried out for the buyer. Older and listed buildings around Five Ash Down may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why book us in Five Ash Down
- Surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
Take a look at our cost guide and our case studies.
Towns and villages near Five Ash Down
More services for Five Ash Down
Five Ash Down homes and their roofs
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. 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. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
If you live in an older home near Five Ash Down Independent Chapel, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Five Ash Down is about 2 miles north of Uckfield, in East Sussex. We survey roofs in Five Ash Down and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex, large and small. Crawley is in our area too.
We cover every part of the TN22 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Ashengate Way, Flaxen Fields and Olives Pit Lane. If you’re just outside Five Ash Down, we cover High Hurstwood (1 mile north-east), Fairwarp (1 mile north), Sweethaws (3 miles north-east), Crowborough (4 miles north-east) and Jarvis Brook (5 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Seaford (15 miles south), Lewes (10 miles south-west), Hailsham (11 miles south-east), Newhaven (14 miles south), Peacehaven (15 miles south) and Telscombe (15 miles south).
Local landmarks in Five Ash Down
We work in homes and buildings around Uckfield College and the streets around them. Five Ash Down’s nearest station is Buxted station, about 1.2 miles south-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Tickerage Castle (2.8 miles south-east) and Uckfield Community Hospital (2.4 miles south). The countryside around Five Ash Down includes Brickfield Meadow.
Questions from Five Ash Down
Is Five Ash Down within the area you cover?
Yes. Five Ash Down is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Five Ash Down?
Yes, Five Ash Down is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs.
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.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We carry out surveys on weekdays and at weekends. To arrange a date, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Does your survey replace a RICS home 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.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
The visit normally takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. We’ll give you an idea of timing when you book.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.