East Sussex · London and the South East
Firle Roof Survey
Roof surveys in Firle, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
- Loose ridge or hip tiles
- Worn lead at chimneys and abutments
How a roof survey works in Firle
Many homes have several roofs, not just one. Flat roofs over extensions, garages and dormers are common in felt, EPDM rubber, GRP or asphalt. They’re included alongside the main roof, looking for ponding, splits, blisters and worn upstands. Flat roofs often need attention long before the main roof, so they deserve a proper look. A felt roof frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, and GRP up to about 30. If you are worried about lifted, split or missing lead flashings and loose ridge or hip tiles, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It is useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Where
- Firle (BN8)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
Signs you need a roof survey in Firle
Every roof takes years of rain, wind, sun and frost. Wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, while rain gets into every gap. What starts as one slipped slate can become a leak.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or broken
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Loose chimney pots
Take a building like Firle Church of England Primary School: large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Before and after the survey
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Clear the loft hatch area before we arrive
- Photograph stains when they appear
- Keep the report with your property records
- Watch for slipped slates after bad weather
Keep the report with your property records. It is a useful baseline for future surveys, and it can help when you sell.
After a storm, check the roof from the garden and the street. Fragments of slate or tile on the ground mean something has shifted. Prompt repairs stop small problems growing.
What a roof survey doesn’t cover
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Flat roofs
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings
- Chimney stacks
Towns and villages near Firle
What else we do in Firle
Firle: your questions answered
Is my home in Firle listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you cover smaller places like Firle?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We check the parts we’re given access to, and the report makes that clear.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only when it’s safe. We also use views from ground level, windows and the loft space.
How much does a roof survey cost in Firle?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Each report includes photographs.
Can you tell me how long my roof will last?
Not as a figure. The report explains the condition of each part and the signs of wear, and we say what needs attention and how urgently.
Roof surveys around Firle
Firle lies within about 5 miles of the sea, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, while driving rain finds any gap. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
For landlords with property near Glynde station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. Living close to Lewes and Laughton Levels is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Firle is about 4 miles south-east of Lewes, in East Sussex. Surveys in Firle work the same way as everywhere we cover: a close look at what can be seen safely, photos and a clear written report. Firle is one of the places in East Sussex where we work for roof surveys. There is also a page for Brighton.
Roof surveys in BN8 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include The Street, Bostal Road and Firle Bostal, and we cover them all. Other places close to Firle include Glynde (1 mile north-west), Glyndebourne (2 miles north-west), Ashton Green (3 miles north), South Heighton (3 miles south) and Ringmer (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (10 miles south-east), Seaford (5 miles south), Lewes (4 miles north-west), Hailsham (8 miles east), Crowborough (14 miles north) and Uckfield (8 miles north).
What’s near Firle
Typical jobs here are in homes near Lewes and Laughton Levels, The Ram Inn and Science and Technology Policy Research and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Glynde station, about 1 mile north-west. A little further out are Lewes Castle (3.8 miles north-west) and Museum of Agricultural Bygones (3.2 miles north). The countryside around Firle includes Southerham Farm and Firle Beacon.
What happens on the day
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. The survey typically takes between one and two hours for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. Cottages and farmhouses around Firle often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We help you choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- On the day, we start by hearing what you’ve noticed.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- The report is emailed with findings and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Book a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you are ready.
Related advice
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes. Worn or split lead lets water straight in.
Chimney stacks
We check the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings of each stack, as far as we can safely see them. We note any lean or loose pots.