Medway · London and the South East
Roof surveys in ME1
Roof surveys, leak investigations and drone surveys across ME1, covering Rochester Riverside, Peters Village and Borstal. Prices from £150 including VAT and surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Towns and villages in ME1
- Rochester Riverside
- Peters Village
- Borstal
- Burham
- Wouldham
- Scarborough
- Chatham
- Rochester
- Strood
- Chatham Waterfront
- Holborough
- Frindsbury
Surveys we offer in ME1
- Pre-purchase roof survey
- Thermal imaging roof survey
- Roof leak investigation
- Chimney survey
- New roof snagging
- Roof survey
- Gutter survey
- Storm damage roof report
- Electronic leak detection
- Landlord roof survey
- Drone roof survey
- Flat roof survey
- See all services
Send the address and what’s prompted the survey and we’ll find a date: ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Roof surveys across ME1: what to expect
Everything we check, we check safely: from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where conditions allow. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging and, where it applies, a drone, which helps with tall or steep roofs. All we need from you is access to the property and the loft. Each defect we find is photographed and explained. Common reasons to book are worn or blocked valleys and cracked or blistered flat roof coverings, across flat roofs, natural slate and lead flashings.
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a report with photos, sent to you by email. On timing, most surveys take about one to two hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys.
- You let us know the address, the type of roof and what’s worrying you.
- We agree a date, including weekends if that suits you.
- Outside, we inspect from the ground, windows and other safe vantage points, and from the roof where safe.
- Inside, we check the loft space where there’s safe access.
- We email a report with photos and recommendations.
How our prices work
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and which survey you book.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Surveys seven days a week
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Arrange a survey
Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or email us to find out.
Local landmarks in Rochester Riverside
Typical jobs here are in homes near St John Fisher RC Comprehensive School, Former Ordnance Store At Chatham Gun Wharf and The Eagle Tavern, among other places. You’ll also find The Paddock (0.8 miles south-east), St Michael the Archangel Church (0.9 miles south-east), Rochester Riverside Church of England Primary School (within half a mile north-west) and Fort Pitt Grammar School (0.7 miles south-east). Rochester Riverside has its own railway station: Rochester station. A little further out are Huguenot Museum (within half a mile west) and French Hospital (less than half a mile south-west). Open spaces near Rochester Riverside include Gad's Hill and Rede Common.
- Places of worship nearby include Church of St Nicholas (under half a mile west)
Roofs, chimneys and gutters across ME1
From Chatham, Rochester and Strood to its smaller places, buildings across ME1 have roofs of every age. The usual weak points are fixings, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
From inner London terraces to Kent oast houses, Sussex tile-hanging and Hampshire thatch, the South East has a huge mix of roofs. ME1 is part of that mix. Parts of ME1 are on or near the coast, where roofs face more wind and more salt in the air than inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Rochester Riverside: Shop and office owners around Pentagon Shopping Centre may find that knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies. Historic houses such as Restoration House, about 0.3 miles south-west, show how far back building around Rochester Riverside goes. Older roofs nearby often mix original materials with later repairs, and the survey shows where each one is.
Why roofs fail
Some damage starts inside the roof space. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up in the loft, and the damp gets into timbers and insulation. It can look like a leak.
Common reasons to book include:
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Cracked or blistered flat roof coverings
- Worn lead at chimneys and abutments
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
Each chimney’s pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked, as far as we can safely see them. We note any lean or loose pots.
Concrete interlocking tiles
On low-pitched roofs, the laps and fixings of interlocking tiles matter. We look for lifted, cracked or slipped tiles, particularly at the verges and ridge.
Tips that help
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Photograph stains when they appear
- Don’t climb onto the roof yourself
- File the report with your home documents
- Clear the loft hatch area before we arrive
Standard includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, while Premium includes a consultation in person. You can ask us about anything that isn’t clear.
After a storm, check the roof from the garden and the street. Fragments of slate or tile on the ground mean something has shifted. Prompt repairs stop small problems growing.
Surveys for landlords and agents in ME1
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photos, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run seven days a week, which can make access easier.
Honest limits
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- Confirmation of asbestos in soffits or cement sheets
- How the roof will behave in every kind of weather
- The condition of the rest of the building (that is a RICS home survey)
ME1: your questions answered
Is your survey a structural engineer’s report?
No. We report on the roof’s condition, and Standard and Premium include structural checks. It is not a structural engineer’s report and does not include calculations.
What do you check on a roof survey?
Slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are all checked, plus the roof space where there’s safe access. You get a written report with photographs and recommendations.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can normally go ahead in light rain, and it can even help show where water is getting in. High wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
Can you check whether my roof contains asbestos?
No. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. We flag materials that could contain it, and a specialist asbestos surveyor should check them.
Can you inspect a terraced or semi-detached roof?
Yes. We inspect what the owner gives us access to. If a problem seems to come from next door, we will say so.
Does someone need to be in?
That depends on the survey. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in, while outside access can be discussed when booking.