West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Lower Horncroft, West Sussex
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Lower Horncroft and the rest of West Sussex. Surveys run on any day of the week.
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Flashings that have lifted or split
Pre-purchase roof survey in Lower Horncroft: what you get
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where applicable and an in-person consultation. Pick the one that fits the property. All three include a written report with photos and recommendations. We survey the roof space, lead flashings and valleys and gutters and downpipes, and people most frequently book us about sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and signs of past leaks inside the loft.
Older buildings in small places like Lower Horncroft 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. 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. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photo where possible.
- Where
- Lower Horncroft (RH20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, from ground level, from windows, in the loft space and by drone where applicable. The survey normally takes about one to two hours for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Somewhere as small as Lower Horncroft, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Book a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.
Advice
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Lower Horncroft
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- Height and safe access
- The size of the roof
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
Getting in touch
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you get in touch, it’s useful to mention:
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- What made you get in touch
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
When you need someone else
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Asbestos testing of any kind
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- The roof space
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Lower Horncroft?
Most viewings never get near the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates, and a quick glance from the street misses a lot. New paint on a ceiling can hide old water stains, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
Look out for signs like these:
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Agatha, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
What to check before booking
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
FAQs for Lower Horncroft
Do you cover smaller places like Lower Horncroft?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Is my home in Lower Horncroft listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It is a dedicated roof survey, with a written report and photographs. It does not cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it’s safe. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and that is where a roof survey helps. It isn’t a replacement for a RICS survey.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual one, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. If a flue needs testing, we will suggest who to ask.
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails that fix it often give out first. When slates start to slip, corroded nails are often the reason, and we note how widespread it looks.
Local roofs and buyers in Lower Horncroft
Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper 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. The wider area around Lower Horncroft has a long history of building, with Bignor Roman Villa about 2.2 miles south-west. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you own a rental within reach of Pulborough station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Lower Horncroft is about 10 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. Lower Horncroft is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Lower Horncroft is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Crawley page.
Surveys in RH20 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Coates (1 mile west), Fittleworth (1 mile north), Watersfield (1 mile south), Coldwaltham (1 mile south-east) and Bedham (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover Horsham (13 miles north-east), Worthing (11 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (12 miles south-west), Chichester (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (10 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (15 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Lower Horncroft
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Swan Hotel and Lodge Hill Residential Centre, among other places. The closest station to Lower Horncroft is Pulborough station, roughly 2.3 miles east of the centre. A little further out are Coates Castle (0.9 miles west) and Coultershaw Heritage Site (2.4 miles north-west). Not far away are Amberley Wildbrooks RSPB Reserve and Bignor Hill.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.