West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Ford, West Sussex
Need a pre-purchase roof survey in Ford? We can help, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
What happens on the day
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the roof space if there’s safe access. In total, it takes an hour or two for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Older rural homes like those around Ford can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We agree a time and how we will get in, including the loft.
- The roof is inspected from each safe vantage point, inside and out.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Before the survey
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Let us know about parking near the property
Booking a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
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Pre-purchase roof survey in Ford: what you get
We survey roofs for buyers in Ford and across London and the South East. From terraced and semi-detached homes to detached houses and flats, we follow the same careful process. The report says what’s in good order, what isn’t and what to deal with first. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and have 20+ years’ experience. To book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We survey natural slate, lead flashings and valleys and the roof space, and people most often book us about blistered or split felt on a flat roof and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes.
For a small place like Ford, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed in advance. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when you book. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Ford (BN18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Check we’ll be able to get into the loft space
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Each defect is explained in plain words, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Every so often, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
What we can’t see
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- A structural engineer’s report
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- The roof space
When to book a survey in Ford
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Good slate can last well over a century, but corroded nails let slates slip. It is a frequent finding on older houses.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
Landlords with a home close to Ford station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Questions to ask before booking
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
More services for Ford
Landlords, agents and block managers in Ford
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, with the most urgent items set out first.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Small roof defects let water in slowly. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Spotting it before you buy means you know about it from day one. Older cottages and farmhouses around Ford can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book us in Ford
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Surveys seven days a week
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Ford
Ford is within about 2 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, and loose ridges, slates and tiles are the first to lift in a gale, which is worth knowing before you buy or pay for new work. Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
If you live in an older home near The Parish Church of St Andrew, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. Historic houses like Ecclesden Manor, about 4.8 miles east, show how far back building around Ford goes. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Ford is about 2 miles north-west of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Ford for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Across West Sussex, we cover Ford. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in BN18 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Station Road, Ford Road and Rodney Crescent or a nearby road, we can help. Other places close to Ford include Tortington (1 mile north), Horsemere Green (1 mile south), Climping (1 mile south), Wick (1 mile east) and Lyminster (1 mile east). We also work in nearby towns such as Worthing (8 miles east), Bognor Regis (5 miles south-west), Chichester (9 miles west), Selsey (11 miles south-west), Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles east) and Lancing (11 miles east).
Local landmarks in Ford
In Ford, that means homes and buildings near The Arundel Arms Public House At Ford Station, among other places. There’s a railway station in Ford itself: Ford station. A little further out are Arundel and District Hospital (2.1 miles north) and Rustington Museum (3.5 miles east). Open spaces near Ford include WWT Arundel.
Ford questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Ford?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Will you come out to Ford?
Yes. Ford is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. We will give you an idea of timing when you book.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and that is where a roof survey helps. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We carry out surveys on any day of the week. To find a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.