West Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Wivelsfield, West Sussex
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat across Wivelsfield, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Old water stains in the loft space
Pre-purchase roof survey in Wivelsfield: what you get
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, while you’re not yet committed. 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. If you’ve noticed old water stains in the roof space and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like Wivelsfield, homes are frequently 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, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Wivelsfield (RH17)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Clay and concrete tiles
Concrete interlocking tiles are common on post-war and newer homes. They’re heavy and hard-wearing, but they weather and can crack.
Natural slate
On a slate roof, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all on very old roofs. Where we can see it from the loft, we say what condition it’s in.
When you need someone else
Every survey has limits, and it’s better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Wivelsfield
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can point to a problem that keeps coming back. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
We’re often asked to look at:
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
If you live in an older home near Ote Hall Chapel, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Questions to ask before booking
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Local roofs and buyers in Wivelsfield
The wider area around Wivelsfield has a long history of building, with Ockenden Manor about 3.6 miles north-west. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you let a flat or house near Wivelsfield station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Wivelsfield is about 2 miles east of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. If you are in Wivelsfield, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Brighton page.
All of RH17 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. We cover properties on Blackmores, Ditchling Road and Green Road and the roads around them. If you’re just outside Wivelsfield, we cover Wivelsfield Green (1 mile east), Ditchling Common (1 mile south), Haywards Heath (2 miles north), Scaynes Hill (2 miles north-east) and Plumpton Green (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (11 miles north-west), Horsham (12 miles north-west), East Grinstead (12 miles north), Shoreham-by-Sea (12 miles south-west), Lancing (14 miles south-west) and Broadfield (10 miles north-west).
Around Wivelsfield
Around Wivelsfield, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Burgess Hill Academy and Royal Oak pub, among other places. The nearest railway station is Wivelsfield station, about 1.4 miles west. Nearby you’ll also find St Francis Hospital (1.6 miles north) and Burgess Hill Museum (1.9 miles south-west). Open spaces near Wivelsfield include Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve and Ditchling Beacon.
Towns and villages near Wivelsfield
What else we do in Wivelsfield
How it works
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Rural addresses near Wivelsfield can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, inside and out.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Getting a price
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from ground level or a window. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
Wivelsfield questions
Do you cover smaller places like Wivelsfield?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Is Wivelsfield in the area you cover?
Yes, Wivelsfield is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Wivelsfield as anywhere else.
How long will you be at the property?
On site, it typically takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Mention it when you contact us and we will explain what’s needed.
How soon is the report ready?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email with photos included.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller.
Why act early in Wivelsfield
Lots of buyers go ahead anyway, but with their eyes open. You’ll know which jobs are urgent and which can wait, and you can line up a roofer before small faults grow. In a place like Wivelsfield, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
For a price for your roof in Wivelsfield, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Wivelsfield
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 20+ years’ experience
- PI and public liability insurance
- An independent look at the roof
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
What affects the price in Wivelsfield
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Height and safe access
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The size of the roof
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we will tell you which fits.
What we need to know
A few details help us suggest the right survey and price. When you contact us, it is useful to mention:
- When you need the report by
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The property’s address and postcode
- Anything about access we should know
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.