West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Hammerpot
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Hammerpot from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Hammerpot
The best time to book is once your offer has been accepted and before you exchange contracts. That is when the findings are most useful, because nothing is binding yet. We survey seven days a week, which helps when the chain is moving fast. The report comes within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Common reasons to book are quick fixes on flashings and valleys and signs of past leaks inside the loft, across the roof space, lead flashings and valleys and gutters and downpipes.
Some older homes in villages like Hammerpot are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it’s worth knowing which applies, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Hammerpot (BN16)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you’d like to know. After that, we check everything we can see safely, from the ground, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where it applies. The survey typically takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Around Hammerpot, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- 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.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Booking a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from ground level or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
A stack stands exposed above the roof line. We check the pots, the flaunching, the pointing and the flashings, as far as we can see them safely.
Natural slate
Good slate is one of the longest-lasting roof coverings, yet the nails that fix it often give out first. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’.
Places near Hammerpot
What else we do in Hammerpot
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Hammerpot: local notes
Hammerpot lies within about 3 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, which is worth knowing before you buy or pay for new work. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Ecclesden Manor, about 1.1 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Hammerpot. 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 own a rental within reach of Angmering station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Hammerpot is about 3 miles north-east of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We visit Hammerpot as part of our work across West Sussex, for homes and businesses alike. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in BN16 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Close by, we survey roofs in Angmering (1 mile south), Patching (2 miles east), Clapham (2 miles east), Hangleton (2 miles south-east) and West Preston (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (4 miles east), Bognor Regis (9 miles west), Chichester (13 miles west), Selsey (15 miles south-west), Littlehampton (3 miles south-west) and Shoreham-by-Sea (9 miles east).
Landmarks near Hammerpot
In Hammerpot, that means homes and buildings near The Fox pub, The Angmering School and Clapham Wood. The nearest railway station is Angmering station, about 1.7 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Rustington Museum (2.3 miles south) and Lyminster Siege Castle (2.4 miles west). For a walk, there is WWT Arundel and Highdown Hill.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Hammerpot
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the survey around it.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Hammerpot
Rear extensions, dormers and garages often have flat roofs. Felt flat roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, and standing water, blisters and splits are typical signs of ageing. A buyer can easily miss them, particularly when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
If you live in an older home near The Parish Church of St Margaret, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
What to check before booking
- Their insurance cover
- Their report turnaround times
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Whether the price includes VAT
What you can safely check yourself
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
Common questions in Hammerpot
Do you cover smaller places like Hammerpot?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Is the coastal weather around Hammerpot hard on roofs?
It can do. Within about 3 miles of the sea, as Hammerpot is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Are you insured?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It isn’t a replacement for a RICS survey.
When you need someone else
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll suggest the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Hammerpot
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys