West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Shipley, West Sussex
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Shipley, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and South East England have slate roofs. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates, plus the metal clips that show earlier patching.
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings close the gaps at chimneys, walls and abutments. We check whether they’ve lifted, split or been replaced with mortar or bitumen.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Shipley
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. That’s when the findings are most useful, because nothing is binding yet. We survey seven days a week, which helps when the chain is moving fast. The report comes within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. If you’re worried about blistered or split felt on a flat roof and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on the roof space, gutters and downpipes and natural slate alike.
Somewhere as small as Shipley, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, sent by email. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Shipley (RH13)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
For a price for your roof in Shipley, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
What to tell us when you contact us
These details help when you get in touch:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- The address and postcode of the property
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Anything about access we should know
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Questions from Shipley
Do you cover Shipley?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Shipley as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is my home in Shipley listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
What if it rains on the day?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We will rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
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 agree a day with you.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them.
How long does the survey visit take?
On site, it usually takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes, you can. You will have photos and a written description of each defect, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. We can’t promise how the seller will respond.
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
Towns and villages near Shipley
Also in Shipley
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Mention any deadline when you get in touch
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
With the findings in hand, you can talk to the seller or their agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Shipley: local notes
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
Take an older house close to The Church of St Mary the Virgin: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges. If you own a rental within reach of Billingshurst station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Shipley is about 6 miles south of Horsham, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in Shipley and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Our West Sussex coverage includes Shipley and the places around it. Our Crawley page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in RH13 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Church Close and School Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Shipley: Whitehall (1 mile south-west), Dragons Green (1 mile north), Broomer's Corner (1 mile south-west), Dial Post (2 miles south) and West Grinstead (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Crawley (12 miles north-east), Horsham (6 miles north), Worthing (11 miles south), Haywards Heath (12 miles east), Burgess Hill (11 miles east) and Littlehampton (14 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Shipley
Shipley’s nearest station is Billingshurst station, about 4 miles north-west of the centre. Open spaces near Shipley include Knepp Wildland.
The survey, step by step
You do not need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes an hour or two at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Around Shipley, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it is useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it is safe.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- 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’s safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking before the day
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
How to book
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Advice
Why it is worth a survey now in Shipley
A slow leak can go unnoticed for months. Damp can spread into timbers and ceilings before anyone sees a mark. Spotting it before you buy means you know about it from day one. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Prices start from £150, including VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both including VAT. We confirm the price for your survey before you book.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Shipley
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- A report with photos
- Surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
See what a roof survey costs and our case studies.