West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Watersfield
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Watersfield, with photos and a clear written report.
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Buying a home or a new roof in Watersfield
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Bignor Roman Villa lies about 1.8 miles west, so building around Watersfield goes back a long way. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area. If you live in an older home near The Parish Church of St Giles, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Watersfield is about 8 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. From houses to flats and shops in Watersfield, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Watersfield is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. You can also see our page for Brighton.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in RH20 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include London Road, Chapel Close and River Lane. We also cover Coldwaltham (1 mile north-east), Lower Horncroft (1 mile north), West Burton (1 mile south-west), Coates (2 miles north-west) and Bury (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns like Horsham (14 miles north-east), Worthing (10 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (11 miles south-west), Chichester (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (8 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Watersfield
We work in homes and buildings around St James' CofE Primary School and The Labouring Man pub and the streets around them. Watersfield’s nearest station is Pulborough station, roughly 2.5 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Amberley Museum (2.5 miles south) and Coates Castle (1.8 miles north-west). For a walk, there is Bignor Hill and Amberley Wild Brooks.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Watersfield
A roof report gives you something solid to take back to the seller or the agent. You might ask about past repairs, ask for work to be done before completion or think again about your offer. We cannot say how a seller will respond, but you’ll be asking from facts rather than guesses. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. Typical surveys look at slipped or missing slates and tiles and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney, on natural slate, clay and concrete tiles and gutters and downpipes.
Some older homes in villages like Watersfield are listed or sit in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it is worth knowing which applies, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photos show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Place
- Watersfield (RH20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Watersfield
Also in Watersfield
What happens if roof problems are left?
A seller may honestly not know the state of the roof. Their answers on the property forms only cover what they know about. Our survey shows you the roof as it is today, whatever anyone remembers. In a small place like Watersfield, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why book with us
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- PI and public liability insurance
How it works
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. After that, we look at everything we can see safely. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Older roofs in small places like Watersfield can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it is safe.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Getting ready for the survey
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Let us know about parking before the day
Book a survey
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Watersfield, ring 07833 053749 or email us. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us give you an accurate price.
Related advice
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Watersfield
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- The size of the roof
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- Which survey package you book
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What to let us know when you get in touch
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It’s useful to include:
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- When you need the report by
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
We survey roofs seven days a week. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Watersfield
Chimneys take the worst of the weather 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 matters if work is needed.
We are often asked to look at:
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
If you let a flat or house near Pulborough station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Questions to ask before you book
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What they will not be able to tell you
- What insurance they carry
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
FAQs for Watersfield
Is Watersfield in the area you cover?
Yes, Watersfield is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Is my home in Watersfield listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
How many surveys have you done?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
When will the report arrive?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Let us know your timetable when you book.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, if whoever owns or manages the building agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Watersfield
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof.
What you can safely check yourself
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey.