Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Preston, Brighton and Hove
An experienced roof surveyor for pre-purchase roof surveys in Preston. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Flashings that have lifted or split
Pre-purchase roof survey in Preston
The best time to book is once your offer has been accepted and before you exchange contracts. At that point you can still ask questions, while you are not yet committed. We survey on any day of the week, which helps when a sale is moving quickly. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. We survey flat-roofed extensions and dormers, the roof space and natural slate, and common reasons people get in touch are slipped or missing slates and tiles and quick fixes on flashings and valleys.
In a smaller place like Preston, some houses face open ground, which can mean more wind and rain on the roof. Ridges, verges and flashings are where that weather usually shows first. Whether you’re buying or signing off new work, those edges deserve a proper look. Wind lifts anything already loose, so a small fault on an exposed roof doesn’t stay small for long.
The Standard Survey adds 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.
- Where
- Preston (BN1, BN3, BN88)
- Wider area
- Brighton and Hove
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Tips that help
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
It’s worth sharing the report with your solicitor so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions, particularly where we have found patch repairs.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air can’t flow.
Preston: your questions answered
Will you come out to Preston?
Yes, Preston is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Preston?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
When will the report arrive?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Tell us your exchange date and we will help you choose.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it is safe. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Towns and villages near Preston
Other services in Preston
What a survey costs
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Roof area
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You’ll know the figure before booking.
What to let us know when you get in touch
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, let us know:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Anything about access we should know
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Buying a home or a new roof in Preston
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Preston, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, which is worth knowing before you buy or pay for new work. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
Historic houses such as Preston Manor & Gardens, about 0.2 miles south, show how far back building around Preston goes. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area. The streets around a church such as St John the Evangelist's Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming. If you let a flat or house near Preston Park station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Preston is about 1 mile north-west of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. Anywhere in Preston, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our area takes in places right across Brighton and Hove, large and small.
We cover every part of BN1, BN3 and BN88 for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Home Road, Bates Road and Loder Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Main roads around Preston include the A23, which makes travel easy. Other places close to Preston include Withdean (1 mile north), Prestonville (1 mile south), Hollingdean (1 mile east), Seven Dials (1 mile south) and West Hill (1 mile south). We also work in nearby towns such as Saltdean (6 miles south-east), East Saltdean (6 miles south-east), Roedean (3 miles south-east), Rottingdean (4 miles south-east) and Ovingdean (4 miles south-east).
What’s near Preston
We work in homes and buildings around Preston Park, The Crown and Anchor Inn and Varndean College. Preston has its own railway station: Preston Park station. A little further out are Churchill Square (1.5 miles south) and Brighton Transport Museum (0.5 miles south). Not far away are Newmarket Hill and Ladies Mile.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Without a survey, you’re relying on a glance from the pavement. That won’t show slipped slates on the rear slope, a worn valley or cracked flaunching. We fill that gap before you’re tied in. Around Preston, leaves and moss in gutters lead to overflowing water and damp walls. Dealing with the cause is simple; drying out a wall is not.
For a price for your roof in Preston, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details. We will confirm the figure before booking.
Why book with us
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Surveys seven days a week
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Clear package prices, including VAT
Take a look at our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
What we cannot see
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
What we do, step by step
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where it applies. Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, or half a day or so for a commercial building. For a survey in Preston, we agree the time, the access and parking before the day. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. Tell us about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- 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.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Preparing for the visit
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Book a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.