West Sussex · London and the South East
Racton Roof Survey
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Racton, with photos and a written report.
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
- Crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
DIY checks: what’s safe
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Roof survey in Racton: what you get
Everything we check, we check safely: from the ground, from windows and other vantage points, from inside the loft and from the roof itself where it’s safe. Premium adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where applicable, for roofs that are hard to see well. You do not need to do anything except give us access. Everything we see is photographed for the report. Common reasons to book are ridge tiles that have lifted or moved and slates or tiles that have slipped or broken, across chimney stacks, natural slate and lead flashings.
In a small place like Racton, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Location
- Racton (PO18, PO10)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes between one and two hours for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Older roofs in small places like Racton can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We help you choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- On the day, we start by hearing what you’ve noticed.
- Coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Extra checks are carried out where your package includes them.
- You get a written report with photos and clear recommendations.
Before the survey
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Book a survey
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
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Questions from Racton
How do I find out if my home in Racton 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.
Is Racton within the area you cover?
Yes. Racton is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
Does a roof survey replace a structural engineer?
No. Where we see something that needs a structural engineer, the report says so. We don’t provide structural calculations.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Can you look at a roof that’s joined to next door?
Yes, we can. We survey the parts of the roof you have access to. Where a defect looks to be on the neighbour’s side, the report says so.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
Nearby places to Racton
Other services in Racton
Common roof problems in Racton
Blocked gutters cause a surprising amount of damage. Leaves, moss and silt build up, the gutter overflows and water soaks the walls. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the building, particularly near trees.
Most people get in touch after spotting one of these:
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
- Slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles
Living close to Stansted Park is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Questions to ask before you book
- What experience they bring
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Will the report include photos?
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
What a roof survey doesn’t cover
Before booking, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Walls, floors and services below the roof
- A promise that the roof won’t leak in future
- Confirmation of asbestos in soffits or cement sheets
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat roofs
Surveys for landlords and agents in Racton
Where a roof is shared: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Let us know about it when booking and we will plan the survey around it.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps with budgets and planning.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Racton
The coast is about 3 miles or less from Racton, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles. Warblington Castle, about 3.9 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Racton. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
The streets around a church such as Racton Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. If you look after a building such as Bourne Community College, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Racton is about 3 miles north-east of Emsworth, in West Sussex. We cover Racton and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and the South East. Racton is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work for roof surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
Roof surveys in PO18 and PO10 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for roof surveys include Lordington (1 mile north), Walderton (1 mile north-east), Funtington (1 mile east), Hambrook (2 miles south) and West Ashling (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Bognor Regis (11 miles south-east), Chichester (6 miles south-east), Selsey (11 miles south-east), Emsworth (3 miles south-west), Portfield (6 miles south-east) and Yapton (13 miles east).
Landmarks near Racton
Around Racton, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Stansted Park. Racton’s nearest station is Southbourne station, roughly 2.1 miles south of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Emsworth Museum (2.8 miles south-west) and Havant War Memorial Hospital (4.4 miles west). Open spaces near Racton include Walderton Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
What happens if roof problems are left?
By the time water marks a ceiling, it’s frequently been getting in for a while. Damp spreads through insulation and timber before anything shows below. From inside the roof space, we can often spot it sooner. For older village homes like those around Racton, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT, and we can help you choose.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Racton
- An independent look at the roof
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Every finding written up with photos