East Sussex · London and the South East
Polegate Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Polegate.
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Polegate
We survey roofs for buyers in Polegate and across London and South East England. From terraced and semi-detached homes to detached houses and flats, we follow the same careful process. We tell you what’s sound, what needs attention and how urgent it is. We are insured for professional indemnity and public liability, with more than 20 years’ experience behind us. To book, call 07833 053749 or email us. We are often asked to look into ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof and loose pots and cracked flaunching, on lead flashings and valleys, natural slate and the roof space.
In a smaller place like Polegate, some houses face open ground, which can mean more wind and rain on the roof. Loose ridge tiles, lifted coverings and tired flashings are the kind of things that show it. For a purchase or a new roof, those exposed edges are looked at closely. Wind lifts anything already loose, so a small fault on an exposed roof does not stay small for long.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Place
- Polegate (BN26)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and South East England. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and lead is also a target for theft.
Chimney stacks
A stack stands exposed above the roof line. The pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings are all checked, as far as we can see them safely.
Towns and villages near Polegate
Also in Polegate
Polegate homes and their roofs
Polegate 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 can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you live in an older home near St John's Church of England Church, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are. Michelham Priory lies about 3.2 miles north-west, so building around Polegate goes back a long way. If you’re buying an older home nearby, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
Polegate is about 3 miles south of Hailsham, in East Sussex. Polegate is one of many places we visit across East Sussex, for homes and businesses alike. Polegate is one of the places in East Sussex where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
All of BN26 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. Streets in the area include Station Road, High Street and Church Road, and we cover them all. Polegate sits on or near the A27 and A2270. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Wannock (1 mile south-west), Lower Willingdon (1 mile south), Willingdon (1 mile south), Filching (2 miles south-west) and Folkington (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (3 miles south-east), Hastings (14 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (10 miles east), Seaford (7 miles south-west), Lewes (11 miles west) and Hailsham (3 miles north).
Local landmarks in Polegate
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Horse & Groom pub and Willingdon Community School, among other places. There is a railway station in Polegate itself: Polegate station. A little further out are Burlough Castle (3.4 miles west) and Eastbourne District General Hospital (2.5 miles south). For a walk, there’s Combe Hill.
Common roof problems in Polegate
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but corroded nails let slates slip. It is a frequent finding on older houses and easy to miss from ground level.
Common reasons to book include:
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
If you let a flat or house near Polegate station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What the survey won’t cover
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Let us know your timetable
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.
Checking the roof from ground level
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. Do not go up yourself.
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.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Polegate
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Polegate?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Polegate, take more of a battering?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Will you climb onto the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. 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.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it is applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
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 cover Polegate for pre-purchase roof surveys?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, Polegate included.
What’s the best way to book?
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
How the survey works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. A visit to Polegate is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed ahead of time. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed in advance.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Let us know about parking before the day
Booking a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email to find out.
Advice
Honest limits
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks