East Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Friar's Gate, East Sussex
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Friar's Gate from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- A ridge or slope that dips
Honest limits
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
- A structural engineer’s report
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Friar's Gate
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Choose the level that suits the home you’re buying. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. We survey clay and concrete tiles, chimney stacks and natural slate, and common reasons people get in touch are bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes.
Older buildings in small places like Friar's Gate may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
The report doesn’t just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Where
- Friar's Gate (TN6)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The size of the roof
- House, block, shop or office
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Booking your survey
There is no need for technical words. It is enough to let us know:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- What’s prompted the survey
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Friar's Gate homes and their roofs
In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs, and oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of East Sussex’s older buildings. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
For an older house near a landmark like St John's Church, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. Landlords with a home close to Eridge station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Friar's Gate is about 2 miles north-west of Crowborough, in East Sussex. Bookings from Friar's Gate are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Across East Sussex, we cover Friar's Gate. There’s also a page for Crawley.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in TN6 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you are just outside Friar's Gate, we cover Marden's Hill (1 mile south-east), Chuck Hatch (1 mile west), Crowborough (2 miles south-east), Steel Cross (2 miles east) and Mott's Mill (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Lewes (15 miles south-west), Hailsham (15 miles south), Uckfield (7 miles south), South Malling (14 miles south), Heathfield (9 miles south-east) and Southover (15 miles south).
What’s near Friar's Gate
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Half Moon Inn and Beacon Academy, among other places. The nearest railway station is Eridge station, about 3 miles east. Nearby you will also find Bolebroke Castle (3.4 miles north) and Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (1.9 miles south-east). The countryside around Friar's Gate includes Crowborough Country Park.
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings close the gaps at chimneys, walls and abutments. We check whether they’ve lifted, split or been replaced with mortar or bitumen.
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. We check their linings and outlets from wherever is safe.
How it works
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. A typical visit takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Older roofs in small places like Friar's Gate can have low, tight loft spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it is safe.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We look at the roof from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Let us know about parking before the day
Getting a price
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form, tell us about the property and we will suggest the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Before and after the survey
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
Once the home is yours, the report becomes a maintenance list. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and keep the photos to compare against later. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Friar's Gate
Is my home in Friar's Gate listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Friar's Gate?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Friar's Gate as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. It is 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.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
How quickly will I get the report?
That depends on which survey you choose: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Let us know your exchange date and we’ll help you choose.
How do I book a survey in Friar's Gate?
Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Nearby places to Friar's Gate
Other services in Friar's Gate
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Friar's Gate?
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, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
Bassetts Manor lies about 3.6 miles north-west, so building around Friar's Gate goes back a long way. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area.
What to check before booking
- Whether the price includes VAT
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Their report turnaround times