West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Tortington, West Sussex
Not sure what state the roof is in? You can book a pre-purchase roof survey in Tortington and across West Sussex, with plain-English findings.
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
Tips that help
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. If anything in the report isn’t clear, ask us.
After strong winds, look at the roof from ground level. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Tortington
The best time to book is once your offer has been accepted and before you exchange contracts. That is when the findings are most useful, because nothing is binding yet. Visits run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when a sale is moving quickly. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. We’re often asked to look into gutters choked with leaves and moss and worn or lifted lead flashings, on gutters and downpipes, natural slate and chimney stacks.
In a village or hamlet like Tortington, 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.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Location
- Tortington (BN18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Local roofs and buyers in Tortington
Tortington is within about 3 miles of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Older houses across Sussex frequently have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. The covering on a house you’re buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near St Mary Magdalene's Church, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. Landlords with a home close to Ford station may find that a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one. With Ecclesden Manor about 4.7 miles east, the area around Tortington has a long history. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Tortington is about 3 miles north-west of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. Tortington is one of many places we visit across West Sussex, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Tortington is one of the places in West Sussex where we work. There is also a page for Brighton.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: BN18. Streets in the area include Ford Road and Gaugemaster Way, and we cover them all. We also cover Ford (1 mile south), Lyminster (1 mile east), Arundel (1 mile north-east), Wick (2 miles south-east) and Climping (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Worthing (8 miles east), Bognor Regis (6 miles south-west), Chichester (9 miles west), Selsey (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (3 miles south-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (13 miles east).
Around Tortington
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Arundel Arms Public House At Ford Station and The Littlehampton Academy. There is a railway station in Tortington itself: Ford station. A little further out are Arundel Castle (1.8 miles north-east) and Arundel and District Hospital (1.4 miles north). Not far away are WWT Arundel.
What affects the price in Tortington
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- House, block, shop or office
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Roof area
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
What we need to know
When you call or email, these details help:
- The property’s address and postcode
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- What’s prompted the survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs
Many homes have a flat roof somewhere, frequently over an extension. Felt roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, rubber longer and GRP up to about 30. We look for signs of age and failure.
Clay and concrete tiles
Tiled roofs often last half a century or longer. We check for slipped, cracked and missing tiles, along with odd replacement tiles that hint at earlier leaks.
Places near Tortington
More services for Tortington
How it works
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. The survey typically takes an hour or two at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Somewhere like Tortington needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Tortington: your questions answered
Is the coastal weather around Tortington hard on roofs?
Often, yes. Tortington is within about 3 miles 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 Tortington?
Yes. Tortington is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Tortington?
The quickest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Give us the address and some details about the roof, and we will recommend the right survey. Surveys run on any day of the week.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It doesn’t stand in for a RICS survey.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the freeholder or managing agent. Let us know about it when booking and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
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 photos.
Why act early in Tortington
A good many buyers go ahead anyway, but with their eyes open. You will know which jobs are urgent and which can wait, so you can plan work before small faults get bigger. In a place like Tortington, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Every price we give includes VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
Why book us in Tortington
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- An independent look at the roof
- Photos and a written report every time
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
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, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
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. Never climb onto the roof to look.