West Sussex · London and the South East
Somerley Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Somerley, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
What happens on the day
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It normally takes between one and two hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. In a small place like Somerley, access is normally the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
How to prepare
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Find any records of previous roof work
Book a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
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About our pre-purchase roof survey in Somerley
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, because nothing is binding yet. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 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. Typical surveys look at quick fixes on flashings and valleys and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose, on chimney stacks, gutters and downpipes and natural slate.
Somewhere as small as Somerley, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible, and recommendations are put in order of urgency where relevant.
- Where
- Somerley (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Somerley
More services for Somerley
What affects the price in Somerley
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- The size of the roof
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
All our prices include VAT. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
Getting in touch
We will normally ask about:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- What’s prompted the survey
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or email us. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Useful tips for Somerley property owners
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Let us know your timetable
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up to see how things have changed.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Somerley
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Somerley and across West Sussex can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What this survey cannot tell you
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Somerley
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
Common questions in Somerley
Will you come out to Somerley?
Yes, Somerley is covered. Our area covers London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Somerley?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photographs.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
They do different things. A home survey looks at the whole property, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and doesn’t replace one.
Local roofs and buyers in Somerley
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Somerley, 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, so exposed details get a careful look whether you’re buying or signing off new work. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
For an older house near a landmark such as St James' Church, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming. Landlords with a home close to Fishbourne station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Somerley is about 4 miles north-west of Selsey, in West Sussex. We cover Somerley and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and the South East. Our West Sussex coverage includes Somerley. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
Surveys in PO20 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on Bell Lane and Hundredsteddle Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover Almodington (1 mile south-east), Birdham (1 mile north-east), Shipton Green (1 mile north-west), Earnley (1 mile south) and East Wittering (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (7 miles east), Chichester (5 miles north-east), Selsey (4 miles south-east), Littlehampton (14 miles east), Emsworth (6 miles north-west) and Rustington (15 miles east).
What’s near Somerley
We work in homes and buildings around The Birdham Public House. Somerley’s nearest station is Fishbourne station, roughly 4 miles north. A little further out are Chichester Castle (4.9 miles north-east) and St Richard's Hospital (5.2 miles north-east). Not far away are Pilsey Island.
Checking the roof from ground level
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.