West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof survey in Southwater, West Sussex
Roof surveys around Southwater, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
- Worn or blocked valleys
- Condensation or damp timbers in the loft
Can I check my roof myself?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
How a roof survey works in Southwater
Our roof surveys cover Southwater and the wider South East. We carry out surveys on weekdays and at weekends. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and bring 20+ years’ experience. Each survey ends with a written report, emailed with photographs and recommendations. Whether it is a house, a flat or a commercial building, the process is the same. To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. If you’ve noticed worn lead at chimneys and abutments and condensation or damp timbers in the loft, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Houses in smaller places like Southwater can face open ground, where wind and driving rain hit the roof harder. Ridge tiles, verges, chimney stacks and flashings take the worst of it. A close look shows whether anything has started to loosen before it lets water in. A loose ridge tile or slate gives the wind something to catch, and others soon follow.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Where
- Southwater (RH13)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the cost of roof surveys
Our packages start from £150, with VAT included. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Which survey package you book
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The size of the roof
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
All our prices include VAT. Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for the job before booking.
What to tell us when you contact us
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
If you are buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you are ready.
Southwater questions
Is Southwater within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Southwater?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Does a roof survey replace a structural engineer?
No. If we see signs that need an engineer, like serious sagging, we’ll say so. Our survey is not a structural engineer’s report.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain is typically fine; heavy rain and wind are different. High wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.
How soon is the report ready?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Each report includes photographs.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow an hour or two at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. We will give you an idea of timing as you book.
Places near Southwater
Other services in Southwater
Do you need a roof survey in Southwater?
Chimneys stand exposed above the roof. Pointing erodes, flaunching cracks and pots work loose. Water that gets into a stack can show up as damp in the rooms below.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Torn or sagging underlay
- Slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
If you let a flat or house near Christs Hospital station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes. Cracks in a lead valley can send water into the roof.
Flat roof coverings
Standing water, blisters and splits all point to wear. Upstands and outlets are checked too, since leaks frequently start there.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Leaks rarely show up straight away. Insulation, plaster and timber can all be damp before you see a stain. From inside the loft space, we can often spot it sooner. Around Southwater, leaves and moss in gutters lead to overflowing water and damp walls, especially where trees overhang. It is easy to sort the cause early and slow to dry a damp wall.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You will know the figure before booking.
Why book us in Southwater
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- Prices that include VAT
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Local roofs in Southwater
If your home is older, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
For an older house near a landmark such as Holy Innocents Church, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Southwater Infant Academy, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Southwater is about 3 miles south of Horsham, in West Sussex. We cover Southwater and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and South East England. Southwater is one of the places in West Sussex where we work for roof surveys. There is also a page for Crawley.
Here we cover the RH13 postcode area for roof surveys. Local streets include Station Road, Walmer Close and Pevensey Road. If you are just outside Southwater, we cover Tower Hill (2 miles north), Nuthurst (2 miles east), Brooks Green (2 miles west), Barns Green (2 miles west) and Maplehurst (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (9 miles north-east), Horsham (3 miles north), Worthing (14 miles south), Haywards Heath (11 miles east), Burgess Hill (11 miles south-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (13 miles south).
Near you in Southwater
We work in homes and buildings around The Lintot pub and The Doyle School of Design and Technology and the streets around them. The closest station to Southwater is Christs Hospital station, roughly 1.9 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Christs Hospital School Museum (1.5 miles north-west) and Horsham Hospital (3.2 miles north). Not far away are Knepp Wildland.
How it works
The visit normally starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. All told, expect roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Homes around Southwater often have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. The loft, where there is safe access, completes the picture.
- We start with the property details and any concerns.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- Outside, we inspect from the ground, windows and other safe vantage points, and from the roof where safe.
- Inside, we check the roof space where there’s safe access.
- We email a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Arrange a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.