West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Shoreham-by-Sea. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
Pre-purchase roof survey in Shoreham-by-Sea
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a proper look at it before you are committed. We look at the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, and the loft space where it is safe to get in. The findings come in a written report with photos. Common reasons to book are worn or lifted lead flashings and blistered or split felt on a flat roof, on natural slate, chimney stacks and clay and concrete tiles.
In a town like Shoreham-by-Sea, older streets normally sit alongside post-war and newer estates. Older houses often have slate or clay tiles on timbers that have done decades of work, while many later ones have concrete interlocking tiles. Whether you are buying or have just had a new roof, the checks depend on which you have, from fixings and underlay to ridges and valleys. Many older roofs also have felt underlay or none at all, which matters as much as the tiles.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Shoreham-by-Sea (BN43, BN15, BN42)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Shoreham-by-Sea homes and their roofs
Shoreham-by-Sea is within about 1 mile 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. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
The streets around a church such as St Mary de Haura Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. If you let a flat or house near Shoreham-By-Sea station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. Portslade Manor, about 2.3 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Shoreham-by-Sea. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Shoreham-by-Sea is about 4 miles west of Brighton and Hove, in West Sussex. Surveys in Shoreham-by-Sea work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Across West Sussex, we cover Shoreham-by-Sea. Brighton is in our area too.
We cover every part of the BN43, BN15 and BN42 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. You’ll find streets like Adelaide Square, High Street and Rainbow Square, and we cover them all. Shoreham-by-Sea sits on or near the A27 and A259, which makes travel easy. We also cover Old Shoreham (1 mile west), Kingston by Sea (1 mile east), Adur (1 mile north-west), Southwick (2 miles east) and Portslade (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Worthing (6 miles west), Haywards Heath (14 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (10 miles north-east), Littlehampton (12 miles west), Rustington (11 miles west) and Storrington (10 miles north-west).
Around Shoreham-by-Sea
We work in homes and buildings around Shoreham College, The Crabtree pub and Shoreham Academy and the streets around them. Shoreham-by-Sea has its own railway station: Shoreham-By-Sea station. Other landmarks nearby include Southlands Hospital (0.6 miles north-east). Open spaces near Shoreham-by-Sea include Thundersbarrow Hill and Shoreham Beach.
Practical tips
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Book once your offer is accepted
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. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s, and we can’t promise any result.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
Can I check my roof myself?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Shoreham-by-Sea
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed in advance. We survey seven days a week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
How the survey works
We do not take risks to get a closer look. We inspect everything that’s safely in view, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. The survey normally takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Semi-detached and terraced homes in a town like Shoreham-by-Sea frequently share a roof line with the neighbours, so shared parts are looked at as far as they can be seen from your property. Let us know about any known leaks, past repairs or building work when you book.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
How to prepare
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Leave side gates unlocked
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
Getting a price
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before you book.
Read more
Why act early in Shoreham-by-Sea
When a chain is moving fast, a roof survey can feel like one more delay. Weekend visits are available as well as weekdays, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, which helps it fit around your exchange date. Roof faults found early can be planned for, whereas a leak tends to force the timing on you, in Shoreham-by-Sea as anywhere.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
What you get with us
- Every finding written up with photos
- 20+ years’ experience
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
See what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Honest limits
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Shoreham-by-Sea
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
Nearby places to Shoreham-by-Sea
More services for Shoreham-by-Sea
Shoreham-by-Sea questions
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Shoreham-by-Sea?
Frequently, yes. Shoreham-by-Sea is within about 1 mile of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Are there drone restrictions around Shoreham-by-Sea?
It depends on the exact address and the weather on the day. Brighton City (Shoreham) Airport is about 2 miles away, so we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before any flight. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Do you need access inside the house?
Where possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and views from upper windows help too. Access is usually arranged through the agent or seller.
Do you test for asbestos?
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 suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. You need the report before you exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Will you climb onto the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the loft space.
How quickly will I get the report?
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.