East Sussex · London and the South East
Storm damage roof report in Blackness, East Sussex
Storm damage roof reports around Blackness, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Torn or lifted flat roof coverings
- Roofs hit by falling trees
- Stains appearing after strong winds
How a storm damage roof report works in Blackness
Many policies treat gusts of about 55 mph as storm conditions, but it varies by policy. Your policy document sets out its own definition. We do not decide whether a storm met that test. Our part is recording the damage to your roof and its likely cause. Each area of damage is photographed, and the report is yours to pass on. Insurers decide claims on their own policy wording. We survey slate and tile slopes, flat roofs and flashings, and people most often book us about damaged pots on the stack and gaps where slates or tiles have gone.
Roofs in small places like Blackness frequently stand in the open, so storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hard. Damp in old stone, brick or timber walls is slow to dry out, which makes finding the cause quickly worthwhile. A record with photos is useful if you need to show the damage to anyone else.
Where we cannot see part of the roof, the report says so. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Blackness (BN24)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Blackness: your questions answered
Will you come out to Blackness?
Yes, Blackness is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Blackness?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it usually shows, and Blackness is within about 3 miles of the coast.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not always. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. We use safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Will you deal with the insurance company for me?
No. Our report is an independent record for you to use. Your insurer may appoint its own loss adjuster.
Do you look in the roof space?
If the survey needs it and the loft space can be reached safely, yes. A clear path to the hatch helps, and if the loft cannot be reached safely, the report says so.
Why get it checked now?
The sooner the damage is recorded, the clearer the evidence. Later weather and temporary repairs can make it harder to see what happened. Around Blackness, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book with us
- PI and public liability insurance
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
Different roofs, different checks
Clay and concrete tiles
A missing tile lets rain reach the underlay. We photograph each gap.
Slate roofs
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but the nails often fail first. We check whether slipped slates suggest storm damage, older wear or both.
When you need someone else
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- Damage hidden under coverings or inside the structure, without opening up
- Whether your insurer will pay the claim
- Your insurer’s view of the claim
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will suggest the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Gutters and fascias
- Flashings
- Slate and tile slopes
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs
- Ridges and hips
Places near Blackness
Also in Blackness
Blackness roofs and the weather
The coast is about 3 miles or less from Blackness, so storms can arrive with strong gusts off the water. Insurers decide claims on their own policy wording, and many treat gusts of about 55 mph as storm conditions, though it varies. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from.
For an older house near a landmark such as St Luke's Church, old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in. Michelham Priory, about 4.4 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Blackness. Leaks in period homes nearby frequently come from lead work and valleys that have been patched before. Take a building like Stone Cross School: on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain.
Blackness is about 2 miles north of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. We survey roofs in Blackness across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex, large and small. Brighton is in our area too.
We work across BN24 for storm damage roof reports. That includes homes and businesses on Forge Place, Hailsham Road and Hankham Road. Close by, we survey roofs in Hankham (1 mile north-east), Stone Cross (1 mile south-east), Polegate (2 miles west), Lower Willingdon (2 miles south-west) and Willingdon (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Hastings (12 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (8 miles east), Seaford (9 miles west), Lewes (13 miles west), Hailsham (3 miles north-west) and St Leonards (12 miles east).
Landmarks near Blackness
Typical jobs here are in homes near Causeway School and The Red Lion pub, among other places. The closest station to Blackness is Pevensey & Westham station, roughly 1.5 miles east of the centre. A little further out are Pevensey Court House Museum And Gaol (1.9 miles east) and Eastbourne District General Hospital (2.5 miles south-west). The countryside around Blackness includes Combe Hill.
How the survey works
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely, from ground level, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where applicable. Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Older rural homes like those around Blackness can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We start with what you’ve seen and any temporary repairs.
- We check inside, including the loft where there is access, for water damage.
- The roof is inspected from the ground, windows and the roof where it’s safe.
- We record fresh damage and older defects.
- You receive the written report with photographs.
How to prepare
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
How to book
If you are buying, it is 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 use the contact form when you’re ready.
Read more
For landlords and managing agents
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Tips that help
Getting the most from a storm damage roof report starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Check how your policy defines a storm
- Tell your insurer about the damage promptly
- Get a roofer to make the roof safe if needed
- File receipts for anything you pay for
Questions about the findings are always welcome. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one.
After a storm, look at the roof from the street or garden. With binoculars, you can often spot problems without climbing. Don’t go up a ladder to look.