East Sussex · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Wych Cross, East Sussex
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Wych Cross, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Wych Cross
Some roofs can’t be seen well from ground level or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, along with a same-day report. Where a flight isn’t possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and look from the ground, windows and the loft instead. Common reasons to book are gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing, across clay and concrete tiles, chimney stacks and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
Older buildings in small places like Wych Cross may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Place
- Wych Cross (RH18)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from Wych Cross
Do you cover Wych Cross?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and Wych Cross is part of that. Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the property.
Is my home in Wych Cross listed or in a conservation area?
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.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and details are available on request.
Does someone need to be in?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you as you book.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
We carry out surveys seven days a week. To find a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
What if it rains on the day?
A survey can usually go ahead in light rain. Strong wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
Tips that help
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Tell us your exchange date when you book
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. If anything in the report is not clear, ask us.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air cannot flow.
What we can’t see
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Whether timbers meet design loads
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll suggest the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
Different roofs, different checks
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay and concrete tiles commonly last 50 years or more. We check for slipped, cracked and missing tiles, and for mismatched replacements that point to past repairs.
Chimney stacks
Leaning stacks, loose pots and eroded mortar are common findings. We note them with photos so you can ask about them.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Wych Cross
If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs, and oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of East Sussex’s older buildings. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
Standen lies about 3.2 miles north-west, so building around Wych Cross goes back a long way. If you are buying an older home nearby, it’s worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
Wych Cross is about 4 miles south-east of East Grinstead, in East Sussex. Bookings from Wych Cross are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. We cover towns and villages across East Sussex. You can also see our page for Crawley.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: RH18. That includes homes and businesses on Lewes Road and Wych Cross. Other places close to Wych Cross include Chelwood Gate (1 mile south), Forest Row (2 miles north), Birchgrove (2 miles south-west), Coleman's Hatch (2 miles north-east) and Chelwood Common (2 miles south). Further out, we also cover Lewes (13 miles south), Crowborough (6 miles east), Uckfield (8 miles south-east), South Malling (13 miles south), Heathfield (12 miles south-east) and Southover (14 miles south).
Near you in Wych Cross
Wych Cross’s nearest station is East Grinstead station, roughly 4.5 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include Heaven Farm Museum (3.6 miles south) and Waterbury Castle (3.6 miles south-west). For a walk, there is Brickfield Meadow.
Also near Wych Cross
More services for Wych Cross
What happens on the day
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. After that, we check everything we can see safely. The survey usually takes about 1–2 hours for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Older rural homes like those around Wych Cross can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe 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.
Before we arrive
- Tell us about parking before the day
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
Arrange a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email to find out.
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For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which can make access easier.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, from shops and offices to industrial units. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Wych Cross
Rear extensions, dormers and garages frequently have flat roofs. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and standing water, blisters and splits are typical signs of ageing. A buyer can easily miss them, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
We are frequently asked to look at:
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
If you own a rental within reach of East Grinstead station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- What’s outside the scope of the survey