West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Highbrook
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Highbrook. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Highbrook
A full home survey looks at the whole property, and the roof is only one part of it. Our survey is not a RICS survey, and it doesn’t replace one. It adds a focused look at the roof on its own, with photographs of what we find and written recommendations. The two sit side by side if you want the fullest picture. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, lead flashings and valleys and the roof space, and common reasons people get in touch are quick fixes on flashings and valleys and loose pots and cracked flaunching.
Somewhere as small as Highbrook, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Where
- Highbrook (RH17)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual one, and it is not a flue or gas safety check. We’ll say if the flue needs a specialist.
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and South East England have slate roofs. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates, plus the metal clips that show earlier patching.
Can I check my roof myself?
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Questions from Highbrook
Is Highbrook within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Is my home in Highbrook listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you need access inside the house?
If it can be arranged, yes. Inside, the loft shows leaks, damp timbers and the underlay. If we can’t get in, the report says so.
What’s the best way to book?
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what you need to know. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
They do different things. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and doesn’t replace one.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
How long does the survey visit take?
It normally takes an hour or two at most homes, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Highbrook
About 1.5 miles north lies Priest House, a reminder of how long the area around Highbrook has been built on. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof. Older houses across Sussex frequently have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
If you let a flat or house near Balcombe station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Highbrook is about 4 miles north-east of Haywards Heath, in West Sussex. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Highbrook and the surrounding area. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex. Our Crawley page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in RH17 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. Other places close to Highbrook include Ardingly (1 mile south-west), Little London (1 mile west), Sharpthorne (2 miles north), West Hoathly (2 miles north) and Horsted Keynes (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Crawley (7 miles north-west), Horsham (11 miles west), Haywards Heath (4 miles south-west), Burgess Hill (7 miles south-west), East Grinstead (5 miles north) and Broadfield (7 miles north-west).
Around Highbrook
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Ardingly Inn. Highbrook’s nearest station is Balcombe station, about 3.4 miles west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Princess Royal Hospital (4.6 miles south) and Parish Museum (2.8 miles south). The countryside around Highbrook includes Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Highbrook
Buildings put up or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. Cement roof sheets, soffits and flue pipes are typical places to find it. We don’t test for it or carry out asbestos surveys, but we flag materials that might and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before work starts.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near All Saints Church, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Before booking anyone
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- What follow-up you get after the report
Places near Highbrook
Also in Highbrook
How the survey works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photos, sent to you by email. On timing, it normally takes between one and two hours for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a small place like Highbrook, access is typically the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- 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 ground level and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Arrange a survey
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 send us an email to find out.
Advice
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Asbestos testing of any kind
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
Tips from our surveys
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Each defect is explained in plain words, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air can’t flow.