Negotiating power
A written defect list and a realistic cost is the difference between 'the roof looks tired' and a number you can hold a seller to.
Serving West Sussex & Brighton
Roof surveys andpre-purchaseinspections
A roofer's verdict in writing on what the roof is actually doing: what has failed, what is about to, and what it will realistically cost. A paid service, separate from our free quotes, so the report answers to you and nothing else.
Written report · third-generation roofer, 10 years in the trade · £2m public liability
Book a free quote
Tell us the postcode and the problem. We'll do the rest.
- Written
- Report with findings and condition verdict
- Paid
- A standalone service, separate from free quotes
- £2m
- Public liability insurance
- Free
- Quotes for any remedial work we identify
The service
A roof looked at properly, and written down
A roof survey is a paid inspection that produces a written verdict on the condition of the roof: the covering, the underlay where visible, the ridges and verges, the flashings and leadwork, the valleys, the chimney stack, the roofline and the guttering, plus the loft side where access allows, which is where a lot of the real story is.
It is used by buyers whose homebuyer's report has flagged the roof and said 'obtain a specialist quotation', by sellers who want to know what will come up before it does, by landlords planning maintenance across a portfolio, and by owners who have been given wildly different opinions and want one that is written down and independent.
This is deliberately separate from our free quotes. A quote prices work we would like to do; a survey tells you what is there. Charging for it is what makes it worth reading, the report says the roof is fine when the roof is fine, and says how long it has left when it hasn't.
Who it's for
Buyers, sellers, landlords, managing agents and owners who need an informed, written answer rather than another verbal opinion.
When it's needed
Before exchanging on a property, after a survey flags the roof, before budgeting maintenance, or when quotes you've received disagree wildly.
What you get
A written report covering condition, defects found, likely causes, urgency and realistic remaining life, plus free quotes for anything you decide to have done.
What it costs to leave it
Buying a roof you haven't looked at is an expensive gamble
A general homebuyer's survey looks at the roof from the ground and from the loft hatch, then recommends a specialist. That recommendation exists because the difference between a sound roof and a failed one is tens of thousands of pounds, and it is not visible from the pavement.
A five-figure surprise after completion
A covering at end of life becomes your problem the day you get the keys, with no leverage left to negotiate on price.
Negotiating blind
Without a written figure and a written defect list, a seller has no reason to move on price and you have nothing to point at.
Repairs that treat the wrong thing
Damp gets blamed on the covering when it is condensation, gutters or a stack. Fixing the wrong item costs money and leaves the leak.
Budgets set by guesswork
Landlords and agents planning maintenance from a ground-level glance either overspend early or get caught out by a failure mid-tenancy.
Common mistakes
- Relying on a valuation or a general survey to tell you the condition of the roof covering.
- Taking a verbal 'that'll need doing' from someone who then quotes for doing it, with nothing in writing.
- Assuming a roof that isn't currently leaking is a roof with life left in it.
- Skipping the loft inspection, where perished felt, condensation and daylight through the covering all show up first.
- Confusing a free quote with an independent assessment; they answer different questions.
Our process
How the job runs, step by step
01
Brief and booking
Tell us the property, the age if you know it, and what prompted the survey, a purchase, a flagged report, a recurring leak. We agree the fee up front.
02
External inspection
The covering, ridges, verges, valleys, flashings, stack, roofline and guttering, examined from a safe vantage, not squinted at from the road.
03
Internal and loft inspection
Where access allows, we look at the underside: felt condition, timbers, daylight, staining, insulation and whether the roof is ventilated.
04
Diagnosis
Each defect is traced to a cause rather than listed as a symptom, so you know whether you're looking at a repair, a component, or the whole covering.
05
Written report
You receive findings, condition, urgency and realistic remaining life in writing, in language you can put in front of a seller or a solicitor.
06
Free quotes if you want them
If you decide to have work done, quoting it is free and fixed-price as usual. There's no obligation, and the report stands on its own.
What you get
The difference it makes
Cause, not symptom
We trace where water actually enters, so you don't buy a repair to the wrong part of the roof.
Planning certainty
Knowing whether a roof has years left or is at end of life turns maintenance into a budget line rather than an emergency.
A roofer's eye
Batten condition, nail failure, ventilation and lead detail read very differently to someone who fits roofs for a living.
Independent by design
It's a paid service precisely so the report can say the roof is fine, and does, when it is.
A path forward
If work is needed, quotes are free, fixed-price and guaranteed 25 years on workmanship.
In detail
What the survey covers
Roof surveys across West Sussex and Brighton cover an enormous range of stock, Victorian slate, interwar clay, post-war concrete tile, modern trussed roofs and flat-roofed extensions bolted onto all of them. The checklist adapts, the method doesn't.
The covering
We assess the tiles or slates for slippage, cracking, delamination and nail failure, and look at the pattern of it, defects on one elevation mean something different from defects everywhere.
Ridges, hips and verges are checked for bedding failure and movement, since these are the components most likely to come off in a storm and the cheapest to put right early.
Junctions and leadwork
Chimney flashings, abutments, valleys, dormers and rooflight details are the most common leak sources on any roof, and they are where mastic repairs get found.
The chimney stack itself is assessed for pointing, flaunching, spalled brick and pot security, because a stack in poor order will keep feeding water past even sound lead.
The loft side
Where there is safe access, the loft tells you what the outside cannot: the condition of the underlay, whether battens and rafters are sound, whether there is staining, daylight or active water ingress, and whether the space is ventilated.
Condensation is frequently mistaken for a leak. Wet insulation and damp timbers with an intact covering above usually means a ventilation problem, and it has a completely different fix.
Roofline, guttering and flat areas
Fascias, soffits and bargeboards are checked for rot and for whether the guttering has anything solid to hang from. Gutters are assessed for falls, joints and evidence of long-term overflow on the walls below.
Flat sections, extensions, dormers, garages and bays, are checked for ponding, blistering, splits, upstand height and deck condition underfoot.
- Covering condition and remaining life
- Ridges, hips, verges and bedding
- Lead flashings, valleys and abutments
- Chimney stack, flaunching and pots
- Loft: underlay, timbers, ventilation, ingress
- Roofline, guttering and flat roof areas
What a survey is not
It is a roofing inspection, not a structural engineer's report and not a full building survey. If we see something that needs a structural opinion, significant spread, deflection or movement, the report says so and recommends the right specialist.
It also is not a guarantee against future defects. It is a considered assessment of condition on the day, by someone who works on these roofs every week.
Access and safety
Safe access decides how much can be inspected. Some roofs can be assessed thoroughly from a ladder and the loft; others need a tower or scaffold, and steeply pitched or fragile roofs need particular care.
We agree access arrangements and any associated cost before the visit, so the fee is settled in advance like everything else we quote.
Where we work
Roof surveys across West Sussex & Brighton
If your town isn't listed, call anyway; we're usually nearby.
Related services
Often done at the same time
See all roofing services, go back to the homepage, or contact us for a free quote.
Straight answers
Roof surveys questions
How much does a roof survey cost?
It depends on the size and access of the property, and we agree the fee with you before the visit. Unlike our quotes, this is a paid service, because you're buying an independent written assessment rather than a price for work.
Why isn't the survey free when your quotes are?
Because they answer different questions. A quote prices work; a survey tells you the condition of the roof, including when there's nothing wrong with it. Charging for the report is what keeps it independent.
How long does a survey take?
The inspection itself is typically a couple of hours on a domestic property, depending on access and how much flat roof and leadwork there is. The written report follows afterwards.
Do I get something in writing?
Yes: that's the point. You get a written report covering findings, likely causes, urgency and realistic remaining life, in plain language you can share with a seller, solicitor or agent.
Is this the same as a homebuyer's survey?
No. A homebuyer's report covers the whole property and usually recommends a specialist look at the roof. This is that specialist look, by a roofer.
Will you go into the loft?
Where there is safe access, yes, and it's often the most informative part. Underlay condition, timber, ventilation and evidence of ingress all show up there first.
Can I use the report to negotiate on a purchase?
That's one of the most common reasons people commission one. A written defect list with a realistic cost attached is far more use in a negotiation than a general impression.
What if the survey says work is needed?
You're under no obligation to use us. If you want quotes for the work, those are free, fixed-price and carry our 25-year workmanship guarantee.
Do you survey commercial buildings?
Yes, including flat-roofed commercial units and mixed pitched-and-flat buildings. Access requirements are agreed in advance.
How quickly can you come out?
We book surveys in around ongoing work and can usually accommodate purchase deadlines. Tell us the date you're working to when you get in touch.
Free, no-obligation quote
Find out what the roof is really doing
Buying, selling, or tired of contradictory opinions; we'll inspect the roof properly and put the verdict in writing. Call to agree the fee and a date; any remedial quotes afterwards are free.
07766 878193Or email bwroofing1@icloud.com · Serving West Sussex & Brighton
- 25-year workmanship guarantee
- £2m public liability
- Fixed price, never day rates