West Sussex · London and the South East
Cowfold Roof Survey
Know where you stand with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out roof surveys in Cowfold.
- Cracked or blistered flat roof coverings
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or broken
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
Roof survey in Cowfold: what you get
Most houses have more than one roof to look at. Rear extensions, dormers, porches and garages often have flat roofs. They’re included alongside the main roof, looking for ponding, splits, blisters and worn upstands. A flat roof usually wears out sooner than a pitched one. A felt roof frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, and GRP up to about 30. Common reasons to book are blocked, sagging or leaking gutters and debris building up in roof valleys, across the roof space, ridges, hips and valleys and lead flashings.
In a village or hamlet like Cowfold, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it is normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
We write the report in plain English, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible.
- Place
- Cowfold (RH13)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Natural slate
Many Victorian and Edwardian houses have slate roofs. Where several slates have slipped, the cause is frequently nail fatigue, which we describe in the report.
Concrete interlocking tiles
Many post-war houses have concrete interlocking tiles. They’re heavy and hard-wearing, but their surfaces weather over the years, and they can crack.
Before and after the survey
Getting the most from a roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Check the roof from ground level after storms
- Let us know about past leaks
- Keep the report with your property records
- Move stored items away from the loft hatch
Your report arrives by email, with photos of what we found. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Each finding is set out in plain English.
Have the roof surveyed every few years, and after major storms. Routine surveys pick up wear before it leaks. Each report gives a record to compare against.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Cowfold
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Cowfold and across West Sussex can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Prices for roof surveys in Cowfold
To price your survey, we look at:
- How big the roof is
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Getting in touch
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The address and postcode of the property
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Towns and villages near Cowfold
Other services in Cowfold
Checking the roof from ground level
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
How the survey works
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. Most visits take about 1–2 hours for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. For a village or hamlet like Cowfold, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- You get in touch with the address and anything you’ve noticed.
- A visit is booked for a weekday or a weekend.
- We inspect from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where safe.
- We check the coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and photograph what we find.
- Your report arrives by email, with recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Before we arrive
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Book a survey
To get a price for roof surveys in Cowfold, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us give you an accurate price.
Read more
Roof surveys around Cowfold
There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. If your home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission, so check with the council. 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. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
Take an older house close to Church of St Peter: corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. If you look after a building such as St Peter's CofE (Aided) Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Cowfold is about 6 miles south of Horsham, in West Sussex. Cowfold is part of the area we cover across London and South East England. Across West Sussex, we cover Cowfold. Our Crawley page covers surveys nearby.
All of RH13 is within our area for roof surveys. If you need a roof survey at a property on Oakfield Road, Acorn Avenue and Holm Oaks or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Nearby, we also carry out roof surveys in Kent Street (1 mile south-east), Wineham (2 miles south-east), Shermanbury (2 miles south), Crosspost (3 miles east) and Twineham Green (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (9 miles north-east), Horsham (6 miles north), Worthing (13 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (8 miles east), Burgess Hill (7 miles east) and East Grinstead (15 miles north-east).
Around Cowfold
A little further out are The Dene Hospital (4.9 miles east). The countryside around Cowfold includes Knepp Wildland.
Common questions in Cowfold
How do I find out if my home in Cowfold is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover Cowfold?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Cowfold as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
We don’t put a figure on it, because so much depends on the fixings, underlay and upkeep. What we do is explain the roof’s condition and what to deal with first.
How soon is the report ready?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Each report includes photographs.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so we need permission from whoever owns or manages the building. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
How long does a roof survey take?
Allow about 1–2 hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. We will give you an idea of timing when booking.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. Strong wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.