East Sussex · London and the South East
Upper Dicker Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Upper Dicker, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Upper Dicker
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 careful 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, plus the loft where there’s safe access. The findings come in a written report with photos. Common reasons to book are patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney, across natural slate, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and clay and concrete tiles.
For a small place like Upper Dicker, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at as you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Upper Dicker (BN27)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Leave it or get it looked at?
It is tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. We visit on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and a Premium report comes the same day, so it can fit around a tight timetable. In a small place like Upper Dicker, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can be seen safely and which survey you book.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Upper Dicker
- An independent look at the roof
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Upper Dicker: local notes
With Michelham Priory about 0.6 miles south-east, Upper Dicker sits in an area with a long building history. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
For landlords with property near Berwick (Sussex) station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. If you live in an older home near Holy Trinity, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Upper Dicker is about 2 miles west of Hailsham, in East Sussex. In Upper Dicker, as across East Sussex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Upper Dicker is one of the places in East Sussex we cover. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of the BN27 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Camberlot Road, Old Forge Close and Coldharbour Road and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Lower Dicker (1 mile north-east), Tile Hurst (1 mile east), Lower Horsebridge (2 miles north-east), Nash Street (2 miles north) and Upper Horsebridge (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (7 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (12 miles east), Seaford (8 miles south-west), Lewes (9 miles west), Crowborough (13 miles north) and St Leonards (15 miles east).
Local landmarks in Upper Dicker
We work in homes and buildings around The Plough Inn, Park Mead Primary School and Hailsham Community College and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Berwick (Sussex) station, roughly 2.5 miles south-west. Well-known places in the area include Agricultural Museum (3.6 miles south) and Hellingly Hospital Railway (2.8 miles north-east). Open spaces near Upper Dicker include Firle Beacon.
Practical tips
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Let us know your exchange date when you book
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, while Premium includes a consultation in person. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
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.
Upper Dicker: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like Upper Dicker?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Do you cover Upper Dicker?
Yes. Our area covers London and the South East, and Upper Dicker is part of that. Just phone 07833 053749 or email us and tell us about the property.
How soon is the report ready?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed with photos included.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Upper Dicker?
Just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Let us know your preferred days as you book.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. You need the report before you exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
What you can safely check yourself
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and South East England. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and lead is also a target for theft.
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.
What we do, step by step
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. Most visits take between one and two hours at most homes, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Older roofs in small places like Upper Dicker can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed in advance.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
How to prepare
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
Booking a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
Landlords, agents and block managers in Upper Dicker
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. Surveys run on any day of the week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.