West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Upperton, West Sussex
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Upperton, with photos and a written report.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- A ridge or slope that dips
Pre-purchase roof survey in Upperton
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where it applies, a drone inspection, and the report arrives the same day. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we’ll say so and look from the ground, windows and the loft instead. We’re often asked to look into slates or tiles that have slipped or gone and standing water on a flat extension roof, on the roof space, natural slate and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
Being in a small place like Upperton makes no difference to the inspection itself: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you are buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
The report doesn’t just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Where
- Upperton (GU28)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
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.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Places near Upperton
More services for Upperton
Before and after the survey
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
Once the home is yours, the report becomes a maintenance list. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and keep the photographs to compare against later. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up to see how things have changed.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, particularly after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings close the gaps at chimneys, walls and abutments. We look for lead that has lifted, split or been patched over.
Chimney stacks
Our chimney check is a visual one, and it is not a flue or gas safety check. If a flue needs testing, we will suggest who to ask.
How the survey works
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photos, sent to you by email. As for time on site, most surveys take an hour or two at a typical home, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Somewhere as small as Upperton, access is often the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed in advance.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Book a survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
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When you need someone else
No survey can tell you everything, and it’s better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Asbestos testing of any kind
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
Common questions in Upperton
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Upperton?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Upperton?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Upperton as anywhere else.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Ideally, yes. We look in the loft space where there’s safe access, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain is usually fine; heavy rain and wind are different. Strong wind or a downpour can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Upperton
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. Historic houses like Petworth House, about 1.2 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around Upperton goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you live in an older home near The Parish Church of All Hallows, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Upperton is about 12 miles north-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Upperton can all book pre-purchase roof surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. Our West Sussex coverage includes Upperton. We also survey roofs in Guildford.
Surveys in GU28 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We also cover the places around Upperton: Tillington (1 mile south-east), Hampers Green (1 mile east), River (1 mile west), Petworth (1 mile south-east) and Rotherbridge (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Horsham (14 miles east), Bognor Regis (14 miles south), Chichester (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (14 miles south), Rustington (14 miles south-east) and Storrington (10 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Upperton
Well-known places in the area include Midhurst Community Hospital (4.3 miles west) and Coultershaw Heritage Site (2.2 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Graffham Common and Blackdown.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Upperton
When we price a survey, we consider:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The size of the roof
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Helping us price your survey
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, let us know:
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.