West Sussex · London and the South East
Storm Damage Roof Report in Merston
Storm damage roof reports in Merston from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Lead lifted at abutments
- Roofs hit by falling trees
- Damaged pots on the stack
Merston: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Merston?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is the coastal weather around Merston hard on roofs?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details like ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch.
What if my insurer declines the claim?
Complain to your insurer first. If you are still unhappy, you may be able to take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Our report gives you an independent record of the roof, though we can’t predict the outcome.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys run on any day of the week. To find a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
How long will you be at the property?
It normally takes between one and two hours for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. The report follows by email.
About our storm damage roof report in Merston
Most policies do not cover wear and tear. That makes the difference between storm damage and old wear important. We note signs of each: recent damage alongside any older defects, like nail fatigue on slates or eroded pointing. We give an honest view of what we see. Your insurer then decides how its policy applies. We survey flat roofs, flashings and ridges and hips, and common reasons people get in touch are new damp or leaks inside and roofs hit by falling trees.
Somewhere as small as Merston, older roofs have frequently been repaired many times. A new leak may be fresh damage or the latest sign of long-term wear, and the difference matters, especially to an insurer. The report says what was seen and what it points to. Older walls and timbers hold water for a long time, so it’s worth finding the cause soon.
It isn’t only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Location
- Merston (PO20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes an hour or two at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. Older roofs in small places like Merston can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- We start with the details: when the storm hit and what damage you can see.
- The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows and from the roof space where it is safe.
- Each area of damage is photographed and described.
- We check whether the damage fits storm damage, older wear or both.
- You get a written report you can pass to your insurer.
Before the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Let us know about parking before the day
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
Getting a price
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Related advice
What you can safely check yourself
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Merston
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photos included.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Merston. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Why get it checked now?
Your policy may say how quickly you need to report damage. Check the wording and tell your insurer as soon as you can. Our report can then add a clear record. Older cottages and farmhouses around Merston can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
All our prices include VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You will know the exact price before booking.
Why us?
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Photographs and a written report every time
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
See our cost guide and our case studies.
Roof by roof
Flat roof coverings
Wind can lift the edges of flat roof coverings or tear them. We record any damage and where it is.
Lead flashings
When flashings lift, water can get behind them. We note where this has happened and any damp inside.
Merston roofs and the weather
The coast is about 4 miles or less from Merston, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Strong wind lifts anything already loose, and driving rain gets in wherever it can. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Where water gets in depends a good deal on what the roof is made of and how it is detailed.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Giles, lead flashings, valleys and old chimneys are typical places for water to get in. Goodwood House, about 3.5 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Merston. On older roofs nearby, leaks often trace back to lead flashings, valleys and gutters.
Merston is about 3 miles south-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. We carry out storm damage roof reports in Merston for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Portsmouth is in our area too.
Surveys in PO20 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We also cover the places around Merston: Runcton (1 mile south-west), Colworth (1 mile east), Oving (1 mile north), North Mundham (1 mile west) and Lagness (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (15 miles east), Bognor Regis (3 miles south-east), Chichester (3 miles north-west), Selsey (6 miles south), Littlehampton (9 miles east) and Emsworth (9 miles west).
Local landmarks in Merston
In Merston, that means homes and buildings near Chichester High School For Girls. For rail, the closest station is Chichester station, about 2.3 miles west. A little further out are The Chichester City Museum (2.3 miles north-west) and St Richard's Hospital (2.3 miles north-west).
Places near Merston
Other services in Merston
Common roof problems in Merston
Others book after an insurer has queried a claim. An independent report gives you another view of the roof. What happens next is up to the insurer.
Look out for signs like these:
- New damp or leaks inside
- Flashings pulled away from walls or stacks
- Lifted or missing ridge and hip tiles
- Slipped or missing slates or tiles
If you own a rental within reach of Chichester station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer right away.
Before booking anyone
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Are they insured for the work?