West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof survey in Mackerel's Common, West Sussex
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings in Mackerel's Common, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Valley linings that have cracked or split
- Loose ridge or hip tiles
- Crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching
Practical tips
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. A few suggestions:
- Watch for slipped slates after bad weather
- Stay off ladders and the roof
- Let us know about any leaks or stains you’ve seen
- Find records of any re-roofing or repairs
If you need work done, the report gives roofers a clear brief. They’ll see each defect and its location, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. A stuffy loft collects condensation, which can dampen timbers and insulation over time. Check insulation doesn’t block the airflow at the eaves.
Roof surveys for homes and businesses in Mackerel's Common
Most houses have more than one roof to look at. Flat roofs over extensions, garages and dormers are common in felt, EPDM rubber, GRP or asphalt. We check them as well as the main pitched 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’ve noticed ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs and flashings that have come away from the wall, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on lead flashings, natural slate and the roof space alike.
In a village or hamlet like Mackerel's Common, older cottages and farmhouses often 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. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it’s normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Place
- Mackerel's Common (RH14)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from the ground
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Mackerel's Common
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. 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.
Landlords with a home close to Billingshurst station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. For an older house near a landmark such as The Parish Church of St John the Baptist, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. Historic houses such as Petworth House, about 4.6 miles south-west, show how far back building around Mackerel's Common goes. Older roofs nearby often mix original materials with later repairs, and the survey shows where each one is.
Mackerel's Common is about 10 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in Mackerel's Common and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and the South East. Mackerel's Common is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex we cover for roof surveys. Our Guildford page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in RH14 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Kirdford (1 mile south), Plaistow (2 miles north), Ifold (2 miles north), Balls Cross (2 miles south-west) and Wisborough Green (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Horsham (10 miles east), Broadfield (15 miles east), Storrington (9 miles south-east), Billingshurst (5 miles east), Bewbush (15 miles east) and Angmering (15 miles south).
What’s near Mackerel's Common
For rail, the closest station is Billingshurst station, about 4.8 miles south-east of the centre. Not far away are The Mens and Shillinglee Lake.
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
Each chimney’s pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings are looked at. We note any lean or loose pots.
Flat roof coverings
Ponding, blistering, splits and cracked surfaces are the common warning signs. Upstands and outlets are checked too.
Mackerel's Common questions
Is Mackerel's Common within the area you cover?
Yes. Mackerel's Common is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Is my home in Mackerel's Common listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Let us know which days suit you when you book.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. Much of the survey is done from ground level, upper windows and the loft space. On Premium, a drone is used where applicable.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In strong wind or heavy rain, a drone can’t fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
How long will you be at the property?
It typically takes between one and two hours for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
How soon is the report ready?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. We send it by email.
What affects the price in Mackerel's Common
Our packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Which survey package you book
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Booking your survey
There’s no need for technical words. Just tell us:
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- The address and postcode of the property
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
What we do, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes an hour or two for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. Older rural homes like those around Mackerel's Common can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- You let us know about the property and any concerns.
- We arrange a day that suits you, including weekends.
- We check the roof from every safe viewpoint, inside and out.
- Slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are all examined and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Before the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Booking a survey
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Towns and villages near Mackerel's Common
More services for Mackerel's Common
What this survey cannot tell you
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Confirmation of asbestos in soffits or cement sheets
- A structural engineer’s report
- A promise that the roof won’t leak in future
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat roofs
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Natural slate