East Sussex · London and the South East
Roof survey in Old Town, East Sussex
Roof surveys across Old Town, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
- Crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching
- Valley linings that have cracked or split
Roof surveys for homes and businesses in Old Town
Across London and the South East, roofs differ widely. A Victorian or Edwardian terrace may have slate, a central valley gutter and parapet walls, and many post-war homes have concrete interlocking tiles instead. Whatever yours has, the survey is adapted to it. Older tiled homes may have clay plain tiles, and many homes have a flat-roofed extension too. Each part is checked in the way that suits it. We are often asked to look into slates or tiles that have slipped or broken and gutters that overflow in heavy rain, across chimney stacks, clay and concrete tiles and lead flashings.
In a smaller place like Old Town, some roofs stand more exposed to wind and rain than in a built-up town. That weather tells first on ridges, verges, chimneys and flashings. A close look shows whether anything has started to loosen before it lets water in. Once one ridge tile or slate moves, wind gets under the next one too.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Place
- Old Town (BN21, BN20, BN22)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof surveys around Old Town
Old Town is within about 2 miles of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, while driving rain finds any gap. Older houses across Sussex frequently have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper 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. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Trees in and around Gildrege Park shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters. If you let a flat or house near Eastbourne station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Old Town is about 1 mile south-west of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. We carry out roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Old Town and nearby. Old Town is one of the towns and villages in East Sussex where we work for roof surveys. There is also a page for Brighton.
All of BN21, BN20 and BN22 is within our area for roof surveys. Streets in the area include Love Lane, Mill Road and Greys Road, all of which we cover. We also cover Upperton (1 mile east), Meads (1 mile south), Eastbourne (1 mile north-east), Holywell (1 mile south) and Ratton Village (1 mile north). We also work in nearby towns such as Hastings (15 miles north-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (10 miles north-east), Seaford (7 miles west), Lewes (13 miles north-west), Hailsham (6 miles north) and St Leonards (14 miles north-east).
What’s near Old Town
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Motcombe Infants' School, Gildrege Park and WMG Academy for Young Engineers, among other places. Old Town’s nearest station is Eastbourne station, roughly 0.7 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Eastbourne District General Hospital (1 mile north) and Pevensey Castle (4.4 miles north-east). The countryside around Old Town includes Combe Hill.
Honest limits
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Bear these in mind:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- Whether the roof structure meets design loads
- Asbestos testing of any kind
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- The roof space
- Flat roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
Common roof problems in Old Town
What’s under the slates or tiles is as important as the coverings themselves. Breathable roofing membranes came into use in the UK in the late 1990s, so older roofs frequently have bitumen felt, and very old ones may have none. Torn or sagging felt lets water through.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
- Condensation or damp timbers in the loft
- Debris building up in roof valleys
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary: the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Questions to ask before you book
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
Tips from our surveys
Getting the most from a roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Ask about a flat roof on an extension or garage too
- Move stored items away from the loft hatch
- Watch for slipped slates after bad weather
- Mention any damp patches when you book
Where it helps, we say which items are urgent. Some faults need dealing with soon, while others can wait for planned work. That helps you decide what to do first.
Keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear of leaves and moss, ideally after the leaves have fallen. Use a gutter contractor rather than climbing a ladder yourself. Most overflow damage starts with a blocked gutter.
Different roofs, different checks
Concrete interlocking tiles
Ridge and verge mortar on concrete tile roofs can crack and fall away. Loose ridges and gaps in the mortar are recorded.
Clay plain and peg tiles
Older homes in the Weald and across the South East frequently have clay plain tiles, and some have Kent peg tiles held by pegs. When pegs or battens rot, tiles slip, leaving gaps along the courses.
Also near Old Town
More services for Old Town
Old Town: your questions answered
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Old Town?
Often, yes. Old Town is within about 2 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
I let a flat near Eastbourne station. Can you check the roof?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Are you insured?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Is a roof survey the same as a structural survey?
No. We report on the roof’s condition, and Standard and Premium include structural checks. It is not a structural engineer’s report and doesn’t include calculations.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
We don’t give a number of years. The report explains the condition of each part and the signs of wear, and we say what needs attention and how urgently.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To arrange a date, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Can you check whether my roof contains asbestos?
No. Asbestos testing is not part of our service. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on older buildings, we flag them so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before any work.
How it works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes about one to two hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. With a bit of garden around a house, as there often is around Old Town, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. Inside, the loft is looked at where it can be reached safely.
- You tell us the address, the type of roof and what’s worrying you.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We look at the roof from every safe vantage point outside.
- Inside, we check the loft space where there is safe access.
- You receive the report with photos and recommendations, prioritised by urgency.
Preparing for the visit
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Book a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
What a survey costs
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- House, block, shop or office
- How big the roof is
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 inc. VAT. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What we need to know
When you call or email, these details help:
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- When you need the report by
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.