West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Patching, West Sussex
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Patching, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Patching
With a written roof report, you can go back to the seller or agent with specifics. You can ask about the roof’s history, ask for repairs before completion or rethink the price. What the seller agrees to is up to them, but you will be negotiating from a clear picture rather than a hunch. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. We are often asked to look into chimney mortar that has eroded and slipped or missing slates and tiles, on lead flashings and valleys, the roof space and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
Older buildings in small places like Patching 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 are buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
What you get is a clear record of the roof on the day we saw it. It is useful straight away, and a good reference for later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Location
- Patching (BN13)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Patching
Rear extensions, dormers and garages frequently have flat roofs. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and standing water, blisters and splits are typical signs of ageing. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, particularly when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St John the Divine: the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Before booking anyone
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What happens after the report arrives
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. You are welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Older rural homes like those around Patching can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed ahead of time.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Getting a price
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
Different roofs, different checks
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. Where we can see them safely, we check the linings and outlets.
Flat roofs
Ponding, blistering, splits and worn upstands are the usual warning signs. Blocked outlets are checked as well, and we say what we see from wherever is safe.
What else we do in 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. Do not go up yourself.
It’s useful 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 and it will help the survey.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Leaving it means judging the roof from the street. That will not show slipped slates on the rear slope, a worn valley or cracked flaunching. We fill that gap before you’re tied in. For an older or listed building in a place like Patching, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why book with us
- Packages from £150, with VAT included
- Over 20 years’ experience
- A report with photos
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
Read our cost guide or our case studies.
Patching questions
Is the coastal weather around Patching hard on roofs?
It can do. Patching 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.
How do I find out if my home in Patching is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We inspect from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.
Do you cover Patching?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, Patching included.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where we can, yes. From the roof space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If we can’t get in, the report says so.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Useful tips for Patching property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Check we’ll be able to get into the roof space
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
It is worth sharing the report with your solicitor so questions can go to the seller’s solicitor. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions, especially where we have found patch repairs.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Patching: local notes
Patching is within about 4 miles of the coast, 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. Ecclesden Manor, about 1.5 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Patching. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years.
Landlords with a home close to Goring-By-Sea station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Patching is about 3 miles north-west of Worthing, in West Sussex. Anywhere in Patching, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our West Sussex coverage includes Patching. Brighton is in our area too.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in BN13 are booked the same way as anywhere else. That includes homes and businesses on The Street and Coldharbour Lane. We also cover the places around Patching: Clapham (1 mile south-east), Hammerpot (2 miles west), Cote (2 miles east), Angmering (2 miles south-west) and Hangleton (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Worthing (3 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (11 miles west), Chichester (14 miles west), Littlehampton (4 miles south-west), Shoreham-by-Sea (8 miles east) and Lancing (6 miles east).
Local landmarks in Patching
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Fox pub, The Angmering School and Clapham Wood. For rail, the closest station is Goring-By-Sea station, roughly 2.3 miles south-east. A little further out are Museum of Sussex Folklore (3.1 miles south-east) and Old Castle (3.1 miles south-east). For a walk, there’s WWT Arundel and Highdown Hill.