West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Staplefield, West Sussex
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Staplefield, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
Pre-purchase roof survey in Staplefield: what you get
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where applicable and an in-person consultation. Pick the one that fits the property. All three include a written report with photos and recommendations. We survey natural slate, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and lead flashings and valleys, and common reasons people get in touch are loose pots and cracked flaunching and bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs.
In a village or hamlet like Staplefield, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. 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. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Staplefield (RH17)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
You can learn a lot 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.
Towns and villages near Staplefield
Other services in Staplefield
Before and after the survey
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
Your report arrives by email, with photographs of what we found. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Each defect is explained in plain words, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
Different roofs, different checks
Flat roofs
Ponding, blistering, splits and worn upstands are the usual warning signs. We check outlets too, since a blocked one leaves water sitting on the roof.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay plain tiles are common on older South East homes, and some still have peg tiles. Where pegs have rotted, tiles can slip.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
When to book a survey in Staplefield
A chimney stack stands out in the wind and rain and they’re often the least maintained part of a roof. Mortar erodes, the flaunching around the pots cracks and the flashings work loose. On terraced and semi-detached homes, a stack may be shared with next door, which can affect how any work is arranged.
Common reasons to book include:
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Mark, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What happens after the report arrives
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Their report turnaround times
- Whether VAT is added on top
Buying a home or a new roof in Staplefield
About 0.4 miles east lies Tyes Place, a reminder of how long the area around Staplefield has been built on. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
For landlords with property near Balcombe station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Staplefield is about 4 miles north-west of Haywards Heath, in West Sussex. We cover Staplefield and the rest of West Sussex. Across West Sussex, we cover Staplefield and the places around it.
Here we cover the RH17 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Cuckfield Road and Rose Cottage Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Slough Green (1 mile south), Warninglid (1 mile south-west), Brook Street (2 miles south-east), Whitemans Green (2 miles south-east) and Balcombe (2 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Crawley (5 miles north), Horsham (7 miles west), Haywards Heath (4 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (6 miles south), East Grinstead (10 miles north-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles south).
Landmarks near Staplefield
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Victory Inn and the streets around them. The closest station to Staplefield is Balcombe station, about 2.1 miles north-east. Other landmarks nearby include Cuckfield Museum (2.5 miles south-east) and St Francis Hospital (4.7 miles south-east). Not far away are Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow and Tilgate Lake.
Questions from Staplefield
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Staplefield?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Staplefield?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and Staplefield is part of that. Just call 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the property.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. The report sets out what we found, with photos, which you can share with the seller or agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
How long will you be at the property?
The visit typically takes about one to two hours for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
When will the report arrive?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email, with photographs.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We carry out surveys on any day of the week. To arrange a date, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
What happens on the day
We look at the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. The whole visit normally takes between one and two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a small place like Staplefield, access is typically 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.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We check the roof from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Booking a survey
We confirm the price for your roof before booking, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.