West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Thorney Island
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Thorney Island from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and the South East.
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
What happens on the day
We will ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a small place like Thorney Island, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is 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
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Let us know about parking before the day
Booking a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Thorney Island
A full home survey looks at the whole property, so the roof is one item among many. Our survey is not a RICS survey, and it doesn’t replace one. It adds a focused look at the roof on its own, with photographs of what we find and written recommendations. The two sit side by side. If you’re worried about gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing, we can find out what’s behind it, on clay and concrete tiles, lead flashings and valleys and flat-roofed extensions and dormers alike.
Some older homes in villages like Thorney Island are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it’s worth knowing which applies, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later.
- Place
- Thorney Island (PO10)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Common roof problems in Thorney Island
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but corroded nails let slates slip. That kind of wear is common on older roofs and easy to miss from ground level.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
If you let a flat or house near Southbourne station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
Thorney Island homes and their roofs
Thorney Island is within about 1 mile of the coast, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, so exposed details get a close look whether you are buying or signing off new work. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. The covering on a house you’re buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
With Warblington Castle about 2.1 miles north-west, the area around Thorney Island has a long history. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area. For an older house near a landmark such as The Parish Church of St Nicholas, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Thorney Island is about 4 miles south-east of Havant, in West Sussex. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Thorney Island and nearby. Our West Sussex coverage includes Thorney Island. Our Portsmouth page covers surveys nearby.
We survey roofs across the PO10 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Whether your property is on Hunter Road, Emsworth Road and Spartan Close or a nearby road, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include West Thorney (1 mile south-east), North Hayling (1 mile west), Tye (1 mile south-west), Northney (1 mile west) and Emsworth (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Bognor Regis (11 miles east), Chichester (7 miles east), Selsey (9 miles south-east), Portfield (7 miles east), Yapton (14 miles east) and East Wittering (5 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Thorney Island
In Thorney Island, that means homes and buildings near Bourne Community College and Eames Farm and the streets around them. Thorney Island’s nearest station is Southbourne station, about 1.8 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Havant War Memorial Hospital (3.2 miles north-west) and Emsworth Museum (1.6 miles north). The countryside around Thorney Island includes Nutborne Marshes.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, from shops and offices to industrial units. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed in advance. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
What this survey can’t tell you
It helps to know what a survey will not do before booking:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The shape of the roof and its details
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What to tell us when you contact us
We’ll normally ask about:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Thorney Island, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Nearby places to Thorney Island
Also in Thorney Island
FAQs for Thorney Island
Is the coastal weather around Thorney Island hard on roofs?
It can do. Thorney Island 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.
Will you come out to Thorney Island?
Yes. Thorney Island is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
How do I book a survey in Thorney Island?
Simply phone 07833 053749 or email us. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
What insurance do you have?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. It is a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, with a written report and photographs. It is not a RICS survey and does not cover the rest of the house.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find.