West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in West Stoke, West Sussex
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in West Stoke from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
Before and after the survey
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Check we will be able to get into the roof space
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
It’s worth sharing the report with your solicitor so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. Past repairs, re-roofing and any records of that work are all fair questions.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
Pre-purchase roof survey in West Stoke: what you get
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Most of it cannot be seen from the street. We look closely and record what we see, with photos so you can see it for yourself. We explain each finding in plain English, so it’s clear what it means for your purchase. If you’re worried about gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on natural slate, gutters and downpipes and the roof space alike.
Some older homes in villages like West Stoke 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. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- West Stoke (PO18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Why it’s worth a survey now in West Stoke
After exchange, any roof defect is yours to deal with. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but too late to use them in the purchase. Older cottages and farmhouses around West Stoke can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You’ll know the figure before booking.
What you get with us
- Prices that include VAT
- Surveys on any day of the week
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Over 20 years’ experience
Read our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
Common questions in West Stoke
Is West Stoke within the area you cover?
Yes, West Stoke is covered. Our area covers London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around West Stoke, take more of a battering?
It can do. West Stoke is within about 5 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we cannot promise any saving.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It is your choice, but the two do different jobs. A home survey looks at the whole property, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where we can, yes. Inside, the loft shows leaks, damp timbers and the underlay. If access isn’t possible, we note it in the report.
Landlord and commercial surveys in West Stoke
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around West Stoke
West Stoke lies within about 5 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Historic houses like West Dean House, about 3.2 miles north-east, show how far back building in the area around West Stoke goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you let a flat or house near Fishbourne station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
West Stoke is about 3 miles north-west of Chichester, in West Sussex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in West Stoke can all book pre-purchase roof surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. Across West Sussex, we cover West Stoke. Portsmouth is in our area too.
We work across the PO18 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Local streets include Downs Road and Lye Lane, and we cover them all. Close by, we survey roofs in East Ashling (1 mile south-west), West Ashling (1 mile south-west), Funtington (2 miles west), Broadbridge (2 miles south-west) and Fishbourne (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns like Bognor Regis (8 miles south-east), Chichester (3 miles south-east), Selsey (10 miles south), Littlehampton (13 miles east), Emsworth (5 miles west) and Rustington (14 miles east).
What’s near West Stoke
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Horse And Groom Public House. The closest station to West Stoke is Fishbourne station, about 2.2 miles south. Other landmarks nearby include Chichester Castle (3 miles south-east) and Chichester Centre (2.8 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Stoke Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Natural slate
Places near West Stoke
Other services in West Stoke
Common roof problems in West Stoke
Gutter problems often look minor from the street. Water spilling over a gutter soaks brickwork and can rot fascias and rafter ends. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the house. They’re part of what we look at.
We are often asked to look at:
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
The streets around a church like Church of St Andrew are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
What we do, step by step
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Cottages and farmhouses around West Stoke often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
How to prepare
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Getting a price
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before booking.