Roof Inspection Cost in Horsham — 2026

Roof Survey Costs in Horsham — 2026

Why a HomeBuyer Report Is Not Enough

RICS HomeBuyer reports are typically carried out from ground level. They miss defects only visible from roof level: early nail sickness on concrete tiles, felt deterioration at ridge and valleys, failing flashing details that appear intact from below, and minor tile slippage that hasn't yet caused internal leaking. We consistently find defects on pre-purchase surveys that the HomeBuyer report missed entirely.

What Our Survey Covers

Every full survey includes: all tile slopes (individual tile inspection for crack, slip and nail condition), ridge, hip and valley liners, flashings at all chimneys and abutments, guttering, downpipes and fascia, and loft space inspection where accessible. Written report uses a traffic light grading system with cost estimates for all identified defects.

Pre-Purchase Surveys — Timing

The right time is after offer acceptance but before exchange of contracts. This gives you information to renegotiate if significant defects are found, and time to act on the report before committing legally to the purchase.

What We Find on Pre-Purchase Surveys

The most common findings on pre-purchase roof surveys we carry out in Horsham are: felt deterioration at the ridge and valleys, not visible from ground level; nail sickness on post-war concrete tile properties that shows as multiple slightly displaced tiles rather than the obvious slippage it becomes in later stages; lead flashing details at chimney bases that have been surface-mastic-repaired and look intact from below but are not; and valley liners that have moved or cracked, visible only from roof level. These are exactly the defects that RICS HomeBuyer reports miss because they are carried out from the ground.

We provide cost estimates for every defect identified. On a typical Horsham property, pre-purchase surveys identify £500–£3,000 of repair work that the buyer was not aware of. In a small number of cases, we find defects significant enough to warrant renegotiation of the purchase price. In most cases, the survey gives the buyer confidence to proceed with accurate information about what maintenance lies ahead.

After the Survey — What Happens Next

Our pre-purchase survey report is provided within 48 hours as a PDF. Where you decide to proceed with the purchase, we can carry out any identified repair work following completion — we include our repair quote within the survey report as a reference document. We do not charge a call-out fee for returning to carry out work identified in a survey we have already completed.

Drone Surveys vs Physical Access

Some contractors offer drone surveys as an alternative to scaffold access. Drone surveys provide aerial photography that can identify obvious tile displacements, visible ridge failure and major structural issues. They cannot identify fine cracks in mortar, early nail sickness, felt condition at the eaves, or flashing integrity at chimney bases — all of which require physical access and close inspection. We do not offer drone surveys as a substitute for roof-level inspection. Where drone footage is useful as supplementary documentation — for insurance reports or planning submissions — we can arrange it alongside the physical survey.

When a Survey Is Not Enough

A roof survey assesses visible condition. Where there is evidence of active water ingress, the survey becomes a leak investigation — tracing the entry point from internal evidence and confirming at roof level. This is a different process from a condition survey and typically takes longer. We advise on which type of survey is appropriate when you call to book.

Getting the Work Done in Horsham

All surveys in Horsham are free with no call-out fee. We attend within 3–5 working days for planned surveys and aim to reach emergency call-outs within 2–4 hours. Every job receives a written, itemised, fixed-price quote before any work starts — no verbal estimates and no bills that exceed the accepted written quote.

We are NFRC registered and carry £5 million public liability insurance. All work carries a written 10-year workmanship guarantee backed by a named, verifiable local contractor. Guarantee and insurance documentation is provided on request before any survey visit.

We cover Horsham and the surrounding West Sussex area including Roffey, Broadbridge Heath, Southwater, Billingshurst, Pulborough, Storrington, Henfield, Crawley, Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath, East Grinstead and Worthing. Call 0140 358 1272 to arrange a free survey.

Last reviewed: July 2026 by Horsham Roofing Experts.