East Sussex · London and the South East
John's Cross Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a pre-purchase roof survey in John's Cross and across East Sussex.
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in John's Cross
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. That is when the findings are most useful, because nothing is binding yet. We survey on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when a sale is moving quickly. The report comes within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, the roof space and gutters and downpipes, and the problems we are asked to look at most are quick fixes on flashings and valleys and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging.
Older buildings in small places like John's Cross 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 are buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- John's Cross (TN32)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Tips from our surveys
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Let us know your exchange date when booking
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Deal with the urgent items first, and keep the photos to compare against later. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months to see how things have changed.
After strong winds, look at the roof from the ground. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
What this survey cannot tell you
A survey is a proper look at the roof, but it cannot do everything. Its limits include:
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
All our prices include VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You will know the exact price before booking.
What to let us know when you contact us
We will normally ask about:
- What made you get in touch
- The address and postcode of the property
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
How it works
We check the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the roof space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey normally takes between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Somewhere like John's Cross needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Getting a price
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Read more
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in John's Cross
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Historic houses such as Durhamford Manor, about 2.1 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around John's Cross goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Landlords with a home close to Robertsbridge station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer. The streets around a church like The Parish Church of All Saints are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
John's Cross is about 7 miles north-west of Hastings, in East Sussex. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in John's Cross and the surrounding area. John's Cross is one of the places in East Sussex we cover. We also survey roofs in Maidstone.
We cover every part of TN32 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. That includes homes and businesses on Vinehall Road and John's Cross Road and the roads around them. If you’re just outside John's Cross, we cover Mountfield (1 mile south-west), Robertsbridge (2 miles north-west), Northbridge Street (2 miles north), Salehurst (2 miles north) and Netherfield (2 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns like Eastbourne (15 miles south-west), Hastings (7 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (8 miles south), Hailsham (12 miles south-west), Crowborough (15 miles north-west) and St Leonards (8 miles south).
Local landmarks in John's Cross
Around John's Cross, our work takes us to homes and buildings near John's Cross Public House and Robertsbridge Community College. The nearest railway station is Robertsbridge station, roughly 1.7 miles north-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Battle Museum of Local History (3.2 miles south). The countryside around John's Cross includes Senlac Hill.
Questions from John's Cross
Does a conservation area affect roof work in John's Cross?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Do you carry out roof surveys in John's Cross?
We do. The survey and report are the same in John's Cross as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Let us know about it as you book and we will plan the survey around it.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can usually go ahead in light rain. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions are not right we’ll arrange another day with you.
Do you need access inside the house?
Where we can, yes. Inside, the loft shows leaks, damp timbers and the underlay. If access is not possible, we note it in the report.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We inspect from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. It’s a dedicated roof survey, and you get a written report with photos. It doesn’t cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
Landlords, agents and block managers in John's Cross
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photographs included.