East Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Friston, East Sussex
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Friston, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
Why it’s worth a survey now in Friston
Even if you go ahead regardless, knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan. The report shows what needs doing first, so you can plan work before small faults get bigger. Homes in smaller places like Friston can face more weather, so a loose ridge or verge soon lets rain in. Each storm lifts it a little further.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why book with us
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Package prices that include VAT
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
See how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Friston: what you get
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. A pre-purchase roof survey looks at it closely before you are tied in. We check the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and the roof space where it’s safe to get in. The findings come in a written report with photos. We survey natural slate, lead flashings and valleys and gutters and downpipes, and common reasons people get in touch are sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose.
Houses in smaller places like Friston can stand more in the open than those in a built-up town, which can mean more wind and rain on the roof. Loose ridge tiles, lifted coverings and tired flashings are the kind of things that show it. Whether you’re buying or signing off new work, those edges deserve a careful look. On an exposed roof, a loose ridge or verge soon becomes a bigger job.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Friston (BN20)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in Friston
Rear extensions, dormers and garages often have flat roofs. A felt roof frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, and standing water, blisters and splits are typical signs of ageing. A buyer can easily miss them, especially when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
Signs worth acting on include:
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
If you live in an older home near The Parish Church of St Simon and St Jude, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Questions to ask before you book
- What insurance they carry
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether the price includes VAT
What affects the price in Friston
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
What to let us know when you contact us
When you call or email, these details help:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- What kind of property and roof it is
- What made you get in touch
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or email us to find out.
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and South East England. Worn or cracked lead lets water straight into the roof, and lead is also a target for theft.
Clay and concrete tiles
Many post-war houses have concrete interlocking tiles. They wear slowly, but surfaces erode and edges crack, and low-pitched roofs need their laps to be right.
The survey, step by step
It’s useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit normally takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Being in a smaller place like Friston doesn’t change how the visit works: outside, inside and from any safe vantage point, in that order. It helps to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before the survey
- Keep pets in another room
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Book a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Advice
Checking the roof from ground level
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Local roofs and buyers in Friston
Friston lies within about 1 mile of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
With Alfriston Clergy House about 3.7 miles north-west, the area around Friston has a long history. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy. If you let a flat or house near Eastbourne station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Friston is about 4 miles south-west of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Friston can all book pre-purchase roof surveys. Friston is one of the places in East Sussex where we work. Brighton is in our area too.
Here we cover the BN20 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Local streets include Dene Side, Dene Close and Michel Close. If you’re just outside Friston, we cover East Dean (1 mile south-west), Birling Gap (1 mile south), Jevington (2 miles north), Old Town (3 miles east) and Meads (3 miles east). Further out, we also cover Eastbourne (4 miles north-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (13 miles north-east), Seaford (4 miles west), Lewes (12 miles north-west), Hailsham (7 miles north) and Uckfield (15 miles north).
Landmarks near Friston
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Tiger Inn and the streets around them. The closest station to Friston is Eastbourne station, about 3.2 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Eastbourne District General Hospital (3 miles north-east) and Filching Manor And Motor Museum (3 miles north). Open spaces near Friston include Combe Hill.
Friston questions
Is my home in Friston 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 is 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.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Friston, take more of a battering?
It can do. Within about 1 mile of the sea, as Friston is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
It normally takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Where it is safe, yes. We inspect from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. On Premium, a drone is used where applicable.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed with photos included.