West Sussex · London and the South East
Roof survey in West Dean, West Sussex
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in West Dean, and put it all in a written report with photographs.
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or broken
- Worn or blocked valleys
Honest limits
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Walls, floors and services below the roof
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Flat roofs
About our roof survey in West Dean
There are three levels of survey: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT. The Basic Survey gives a visual inspection, photographs and written recommendations. Standard and Premium go further, with moisture detection and a structural check, and on Premium, thermal imaging and a drone where applicable. Every package includes a written report. Typical surveys look at crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching and loose ridge or hip tiles, on clay and concrete tiles, lead flashings and natural slate.
Older buildings in small places like West Dean may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Older materials like clay tiles, slate and stone are frequently matched when work is done.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photographs show what each point refers to.
- Place
- West Dean (PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. All told, expect roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. For a village or hamlet like West Dean, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- You get in touch with the address and anything you’ve noticed.
- We arrange a day that suits you, including weekends.
- We inspect from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where safe.
- We check the coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and photograph what we find.
- Your report arrives by email, with recommendations prioritised by urgency.
How to prepare
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Other services in West Dean
When to book a survey in West Dean
A blocked gutter does more harm than it looks. Once leaves and moss block a gutter, water spills down the brickwork. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the building, especially near trees.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Loose chimney pots
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
If you live in an older home near The Parish Church of St Andrew, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
What to check before booking
- Which limits apply to the survey
- When you’ll get the report
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
Questions from West Dean
Is my home in West Dean listed or in a conservation area?
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.
I let a flat near Fishbourne station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you need.
Is a roof survey the same as a structural survey?
No. Where we see something that needs a structural engineer, the report says so. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Let us know your preferred days when booking.
Do I need to be at home?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. Access is agreed with you when booking.
How much is a survey?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose, confirmed before anything is booked.
Do you cover West Dean?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, West Dean included.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney stacks
Water that gets into a stack can show as damp in the rooms below. We look for the likely route in.
Natural slate
Inside the roof space, we check what’s under the slates. Older roofs may have bitumen felt underlay, and very old roofs none, and we note its condition.
DIY checks: what’s safe
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in West Dean
If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. With West Dean House about 0.1 miles north-east, West Dean sits in an area with a long building history. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Take a building like West Dean CofE Primary School: large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. Landlords with a home close to Fishbourne station may find that a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
West Dean is about 4 miles north of Chichester, in West Sussex. Bookings from West Dean are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex. Our Portsmouth page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in PO18 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for roof surveys include Singleton (1 mile east), Charlton (2 miles east), East Dean (3 miles east), Cocking (3 miles north) and Bepton (4 miles north). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (9 miles south-east), Chichester (4 miles south), Selsey (12 miles south), Littlehampton (13 miles south-east), Emsworth (8 miles south-west) and Rustington (13 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in West Dean
The closest station to West Dean is Fishbourne station, about 4.8 miles south of the centre. Nearby you will also find Chichester Castle (4.5 miles south) and Museum of Gardening (under half a mile north-east). Not far away are Levin Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
Useful tips for West Dean property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Gather any paperwork for past roof work
- Check the roof from ground level after storms
- Ask about a flat roof on an extension or garage too
- Stay off ladders and the roof
Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months. It helps you see whether anything has changed, and whether work has done its job.
Have gutters and valleys cleared regularly, particularly after autumn. Use a gutter contractor rather than climbing a ladder yourself. Clear gutters prevent a lot of damp.