Roof Surveys and Inspections in Sussex and Surrey
Not sure what condition your roof is in?
A professional roof survey or inspection can help identify visible signs of damage, ageing, leaks and other roofing problems before they become more serious.
Find My Roofer provides roof surveys and inspections across Sussex and Surrey for homeowners, landlords, property buyers and people who simply want a clearer understanding of their roof’s condition.
A survey can be particularly useful if you have noticed a problem, are considering buying a property or want to understand whether your roof needs repairs or replacement.
What Is a Roof Survey?
A roof survey is an assessment of the condition of a roof and its associated components.
Depending on the property and the reason for the inspection, we can look at areas such as:
- Roof tiles and slates
- Ridge tiles
- Roof verges
- Valleys
- Flashing and leadwork
- Chimneys
- Flat roof coverings
- Roof edges
- Fascias and soffits
- Guttering and downpipes
- Visible signs of water ingress
- Moss and biological growth
- Storm damage
- Obvious signs of deterioration
The exact inspection will depend on the property, roof type and accessibility.
When Might You Need a Roof Inspection?
There are many reasons to arrange a roof inspection.
You may have noticed:
- Water appearing inside the property
- Damp patches or staining
- Missing or slipped tiles
- Loose ridge tiles
- Damaged flashing
- Sagging areas
- Cracked or deteriorating roof coverings
- Blocked or overflowing gutters
- Moss covering parts of the roof
- Damage following strong winds or storms
A survey can also be useful even when there is no obvious leak.
Roof Surveys When Buying a Property
Buying a property is a major investment, and the condition of the roof can be an important part of understanding the overall property.
A roof inspection can help identify visible roofing defects that may require attention.
This can include damaged tiles, ageing flat roofs, defective flashing, chimney problems, roofline issues and other visible concerns.
If problems are identified, you can then make a more informed decision about whether further investigation or repairs are required.
A roof inspection should not be treated as a substitute for a formal building survey where one is required.
Roof Inspections for Existing Homeowners
You do not have to be buying or selling a property to benefit from a roof inspection.
If you have lived in a property for years and are unsure how your roof is performing, an inspection can provide useful information about its current condition.
This can be particularly worthwhile for older roofs or properties that have experienced previous repairs.
Checking for Roof Leaks
Some roof leaks are obvious.
Others can be much harder to trace.
Water can travel through a roof structure before appearing inside the property, meaning the location of an internal stain is not necessarily the location of the original problem.
During an inspection, visible signs around the roof can be considered alongside information about when and where water is appearing.
For suspected leaks, see our Roof Leak Detection service.
What Does a Roof Inspection Look For?
A roof inspection can identify signs such as:
Damaged Roof Tiles
Cracked, broken, slipped or missing tiles can leave parts of a roof vulnerable to rain and wind.
Damaged Slates
Older slate roofs require appropriate care, and damaged or slipped slates may need attention.
Ridge and Verge Problems
Loose ridge tiles, deteriorating mortar and damaged verges can create potential entry points for water.
Flashing and Leadwork
Lead flashing around chimneys, roof junctions and other areas can deteriorate over time.
Flat Roof Problems
Flat roofs can develop cracks, splits, failed edges, damaged coverings and areas where water is not draining properly.
Guttering and Roofline
Guttering, fascias and soffits can deteriorate alongside the roof and may need repair or replacement.
Moss and Organic Growth
Moss and other growth can sometimes obscure the condition of roof coverings, particularly on older properties.
See our Roof Cleaning and Moss Removal service for more information.
Roof Repair or Roof Replacement?
One of the most useful questions a homeowner may have is whether the roof needs repairing or replacing.
An inspection can help establish the visible condition of the roof and identify areas that need attention.
A roof does not automatically need replacing simply because it is old.
Equally, repeatedly repairing an extensively deteriorated roof may not always be the most sensible long-term solution.
The appropriate option depends on the roof’s construction, condition, age, previous repairs and the extent of any problems identified.
See Roof Repairs and New Roofs and Roof Replacement for more information.
Roof Surveys for Different Roof Types
Different roof types require different considerations.
Pitched Roofs
A pitched roof inspection can include roof coverings, ridges, verges, valleys, flashing, chimneys and visible roofline components.
See Pitched Roofing.
Flat Roofs
Flat roof inspections can consider the condition of the roof covering, edges, joints, drainage and areas where water may be collecting.
See Flat Roofing.
Garage Roofs
Garage roofs can suffer from leaks, ageing coverings and drainage problems, particularly on older flat roofs.
See Garage Roofs.
After Storm Damage
High winds and severe weather can cause roofing problems that are not immediately obvious from ground level.
Following a storm, it is worth checking for signs such as:
- Missing tiles
- Slipped tiles
- Damaged ridge tiles
- Damaged verges
- Loose flashing
- Fallen debris
- Damaged guttering
- Water entering the property
If you have an urgent problem following storm damage, see our Emergency Roof Repairs service.
What Happens After a Roof Inspection?
If a problem is identified, we can explain what we have found and discuss the available options.
Depending on the condition of the roof, this might mean:
- A straightforward repair
- Replacement of individual components
- Gutter or roofline repairs
- Flat roof repairs
- Chimney or flashing repairs
- Further investigation of a leak
- More extensive roof replacement
The aim is to give you a clearer understanding of the problem so you can decide what to do next.
Roof Surveys Across Sussex and Surrey
Find My Roofer provides roof surveys and inspections across Sussex and Surrey.
Areas we cover include:
- Crawley
- Copthorne
- East Grinstead
- Horsham
- Haywards Heath
- Burgess Hill
- Brighton
- Worthing
- Redhill
- Reigate
- Guildford
- Leatherhead
- And surrounding areas across Sussex and Surrey
If your location is not listed, contact us and tell us where the property is.
Roofing Projects and Case Studies
Our roofing projects provide examples of the types of problems we encounter on real properties.
We are building a collection of roofing projects and case studies covering repairs, replacements, flat roofs, pitched roofs, roofline work and other roofing services.
See Roofing Projects and Case Studies to view examples of our work.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. WHY WOULD I NEED A ROOF INSPECTION?
A roof inspection can help identify visible damage, deterioration, leaks and other roofing problems and can give you a clearer idea of whether repairs or further investigation may be required.
2. CAN YOU CHECK A ROOF FOR LEAKS?
Yes. A roof inspection can look for visible signs associated with leaks. If the source is difficult to identify, a more specific roof leak investigation may be appropriate.
3. SHOULD I HAVE A ROOF INSPECTED BEFORE BUYING A HOUSE?
A roof inspection can provide useful information about the visible condition of the roof. It should complement rather than replace any formal property or building survey you require.
4. DOES AN OLD ROOF ALWAYS NEED REPLACING?
No. Age alone does not determine whether a roof needs replacing. Its condition, construction, previous repairs and extent of deterioration all need to be considered.
5. CAN YOU INSPECT FLAT ROOFS?
Yes. Flat roofs can be inspected for visible signs of damage, deterioration, drainage problems and other issues.
6. CAN YOU CHECK CHIMNEYS AND LEADWORK?
Visible chimney and leadwork problems can be assessed as part of a roofing inspection where accessible.
7. CAN A ROOF INSPECTION FIND STORM DAMAGE?
An inspection can identify visible signs of storm damage such as slipped or missing tiles, damaged ridges, verges, flashing and other roof components.
8. DO YOU COVER SUSSEX AND SURREY?
Yes. Find My Roofer covers a wide area across Sussex and Surrey, including Crawley, East Grinstead, Horsham, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Brighton, Redhill, Reigate, Guildford and surrounding areas.
Need Your Roof Checked?
If you are concerned about the condition of your roof, have noticed a leak or simply want to understand what condition your roof is in, contact Find My Roofer.
Tell us where the property is and what you have noticed. Photographs can also be useful when explaining a roofing problem.
