East Sussex · London and the South East
Roof survey in Holywell, East Sussex
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Holywell. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
What we’re asked to look at in Holywell
A chimney stack takes more weather than almost any other part of a roof. Pointing erodes, flaunching cracks and pots work loose. Damp on a chimney breast inside frequently starts at the top of the stack.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Torn or sagging underlay
- Loose chimney pots
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Worn lead at chimneys and abutments
If you look after a building such as St John's Meads Church of England Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Questions to ask before you book
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Is VAT included in the price?
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- What happens after the report arrives
How a roof survey works in Holywell
Most houses have more than one roof to look at. Flat roofs over extensions, garages and dormers are common. They’re included alongside the main roof, including signs of standing water, splits and tired upstands. A flat roof usually wears out sooner than a pitched one. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, while EPDM rubber can last 30 to 50. If you are worried about water stains on rafters and ceiling joists and lifted, split or missing lead flashings, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Around Holywell, gardens, hedges and nearby trees can mean leaves and moss end up on roofs and in gutters. Once gutters and outlets block, water spills over and soaks the walls, and moss holds water against tiles. It is the kind of slow problem a roof report picks up early. Moss on the roof and weeds in the gutter are both easy to spot from the ground.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Location
- Holywell (BN20, BN21)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from the ground
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
Roof by roof
Natural slate
Slate is one of the most durable roof coverings, yet the nails holding it frequently fail long before the slate. Slipped, cracked and missing slates are all noted.
Chimney stacks
Water that gets into a stack can show as damp in the rooms below. We check the flashings and mortar for the cause.
The survey, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the roof as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Notes and photographs go into the written report. It normally takes between one and two hours at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Being in a smaller place like Holywell does not change how the visit works: we look from ground level, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it’s safe. It helps to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- We start with the property details and any concerns.
- We agree a date, including weekends if that suits you.
- Outside, we inspect from ground level, windows and other safe vantage points, and from the roof where safe.
- Inside, we check the loft space where there is safe access.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Tell us where we can park nearby
Booking a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Advice
How we price roof surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Basic, Standard or Premium
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
What we need to know
Some details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you contact us, let us know:
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- What made you get in touch
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Anything about access we should know
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Honest limits
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- A structural engineer’s report
- Confirmation of asbestos in soffits or cement sheets
- Walls, floors and services below the roof
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll suggest the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
Holywell homes and their roofs
Holywell is within about 1 mile of the coast, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Near the sea, metal fixings wear faster and loose pieces on a roof are more likely to lift, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. 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. Whatever the covering, it is frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
If you let a flat or house near Eastbourne station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. Homes near green spaces like Gildrege Park can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn.
Holywell is about 2 miles south of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. If you are in Holywell, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Holywell is one of the towns and villages in East Sussex where we work for roof surveys. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
Roof surveys in BN20 and BN21 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Mount Road, Cliff Road and Denton Road, all of which we cover. Nearby, we also carry out roof surveys in Meads (1 mile north-west), Old Town (1 mile north), Upperton (1 mile north), Eastbourne (2 miles north) and Ratton Village (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Hastings (15 miles north-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (11 miles north-east), Seaford (7 miles west), Lewes (14 miles north-west), Hailsham (8 miles north) and St Leonards (14 miles north-east).
Around Holywell
Around Holywell, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Gildredge House, Roedean Moira House and Gildrege Park, among other places. Holywell’s nearest station is Eastbourne station, about 1.2 miles north. Other landmarks nearby include Eastbourne District General Hospital (2.3 miles north) and Rnli Eastbourne Lifeboat Museum (0.8 miles north-east). Open spaces near Holywell include Combe Hill.
Holywell: your questions answered
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Eastbourne station?
Yes, letting agents and landlords book with us as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us about the building.
Will you come out to Holywell?
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 when you book.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can typically go ahead in light rain. High 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.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
We don’t give a number of years. We describe the condition of each part of the roof and how it is wearing, and we say what needs attention and how urgently.
How do I book a survey in Holywell?
To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what you’d like to know. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys.