East Sussex · London and the South East
Roof survey in Whitesmith, East Sussex
Roof surveys in Whitesmith, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Standing water on a flat roof
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
Roof survey in Whitesmith: what you get
Our report is written in plain English, not jargon. Each defect is described with photos and a recommendation, and where it’s relevant we say what’s urgent and what can wait. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where applicable and a same-day report. Reports are sent by email. We survey the roof space, lead flashings and flat roofs, and common reasons people get in touch are loose chimney pots and gutters that overflow in heavy rain.
In a small place like Whitesmith, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are frequently where weather gets in first.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Location
- Whitesmith (BN8)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
It is useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
What a roof survey looks like in Whitesmith
Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Historic houses like Michelham Priory, about 3.5 miles south-east, show how far back building around Whitesmith goes. On a period home nearby, the survey separates sound original work from tired later repairs. If you let a flat or house near Berwick (Sussex) station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Whitesmith is about 5 miles north-west of Hailsham, in East Sussex. We carry out roof surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Whitesmith and the surrounding area. Our East Sussex coverage includes Whitesmith. You can also see our page for Brighton.
Every address in BN8 is within our area for roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Whitesmith Lane and Whitesmith or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to Whitesmith include Chiddingly (1 mile east), East Hoathly (1 mile north), Halland (2 miles north-west), Shortgate (2 miles west) and Blackboys (4 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (10 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (13 miles east), Seaford (9 miles south), Lewes (8 miles west), Hailsham (5 miles south-east) and Crowborough (10 miles north).
Landmarks near Whitesmith
Whitesmith’s nearest station is Berwick (Sussex) station, about 4.5 miles south. Well-known places in the area include Hellingly Hospital Railway (4 miles east) and Tickerage Castle (4.6 miles north). Not far away are Selwyns Wood.
Nearby places to Whitesmith
Other services in Whitesmith
When you need someone else
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- A full building survey of the property
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Whitesmith
- The roof space
- Flat roofs
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
What happens on the day
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. Most surveys take between one and two hours at most homes, and longer for a large or complex roof. For a village or hamlet like Whitesmith, the journey is planned beforehand: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- You get in touch with the address and anything you’ve noticed.
- A visit is booked for a weekday or a weekend.
- We inspect from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- Slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are all examined and photographed.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
How to book
To get a price for roof surveys in Whitesmith, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The address, the type of property and what you’d like to know help us price the survey accurately.
Read more
Common questions in Whitesmith
I let a flat near Berwick (Sussex) station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the building.
Do you cover smaller places like Whitesmith?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
Can you inspect a terraced or semi-detached roof?
Yes, the part you own or can give access to. We can only look at neighbouring roofs as far as access allows. Shared chimneys and party-wall upstands are looked at from your side.
When will the report arrive?
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.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if the building owner or managing agent agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
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 the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
How long does the visit take?
On site, it typically takes an hour or two at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
What we are asked to look at in Whitesmith
A blocked gutter does more harm than it looks. Once leaves and moss block a gutter, water spills down the brickwork. Hidden gutters behind parapets and in valleys can send water indoors.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Loose chimney pots
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or broken
- Flashings that have come away from the wall
- Condensation or damp timbers in the loft
Anyone responsible for a site like Chiddingly Primary School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Questions to ask before you book
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What follow-up you get after the report
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Is VAT included in the price?
What we look for on each type of roof
Natural slate
Slate is common on older homes in London and the South East. Widespread slipping usually points to corroded nails, and we say how widespread it looks.
Chimney stacks
We look at the stack itself, not a flue, gas or sweep inspection. If a specialist is needed, we will say so.
Prices for roof surveys in Whitesmith
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. You will know the price for your survey before booking.
Helping us price your survey
We will normally ask about:
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.