West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Merston, West Sussex
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Merston, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
Why it’s worth a survey now in Merston
A mortgage valuation is not a roof survey. Its job is to check the property’s value for the mortgage, and it will not look closely at the roof. Our survey is done for you, and the report is written for you to use. Outbuildings and barns around Merston are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why us?
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Packages from £150, with VAT included
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
See our cost guide or our case studies.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Merston
Some roofs can’t be seen well from ground level or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, and the report arrives the same day. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we will say so and inspect from every other safe vantage point. If you’ve noticed worn or lifted lead flashings and chimney mortar that has eroded, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Older buildings in small places like Merston may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Merston (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Merston
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- How big the roof is
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Helping us price your survey
These details help when you get in touch:
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- What’s prompted the survey
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
We confirm the price for your survey before you book, so you know the cost up front. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Before and after the survey
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask for loft access on the day
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and keep the photographs to compare against later. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up.
Every so often, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Questions from Merston
Is the coastal weather around Merston hard on roofs?
It can do. Merston is within about 4 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Merston?
Typically it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Goodwood Aerodrome is about 3 miles away, so we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before any flight. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and the rest of the survey does not depend on the drone.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it’s safe to do so. Much of the inspection is done from ground level, from windows and from the loft space. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. What the seller agrees to is their decision, so we can’t promise any saving.
Is this an asbestos survey?
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, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS 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.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
Checking the roof from the ground
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when you book.
Local roofs and buyers in Merston
Merston lies within about 4 miles of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain. In Sussex, older roofs are frequently handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
Landlords with a home close to Chichester station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Giles, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. Goodwood House, about 3.5 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Merston. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Merston is about 3 miles south-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Merston can all book pre-purchase roof surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. Merston is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in PO20 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Runcton (1 mile south-west), Colworth (1 mile east), Oving (1 mile north), North Mundham (1 mile west) and Lagness (1 mile south). Further out, we also cover Worthing (15 miles east), Bognor Regis (3 miles south-east), Chichester (3 miles north-west), Selsey (6 miles south), Littlehampton (9 miles east) and Emsworth (9 miles west).
Near you in Merston
Typical jobs here are in homes near Chichester High School For Girls, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Chichester station, roughly 2.3 miles west. Other landmarks nearby include The Chichester City Museum (2.3 miles north-west) and St Richard's Hospital (2.3 miles north-west).
Places near Merston
What else we do in Merston
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. You’re welcome to ask questions while we are there. In a hamlet or village like Merston, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe 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.
How to prepare
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Booking a survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.