Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Alkham
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Alkham from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
Can I check my roof myself?
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Alkham
The best time to book is once your offer has been accepted and before you exchange contracts. At that point you can still ask questions, while you are not yet committed. We survey on any day of the week, which helps when a sale is moving quickly. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. We survey clay and concrete tiles, the roof space and natural slate, and people most often book us about bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and a ridge or slope that dips.
In a village or hamlet like Alkham, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Photographs show what each point refers to.
- Where
- Alkham (CT15)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
Different roofs, different checks
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If the home you’re buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.
The survey, step by step
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Cottages and farmhouses around Alkham frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We agree a time and how we’ll get in, including the loft.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- We email a report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Before the survey
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Jot down any questions you want answered
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
Alkham: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Alkham is listed?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is the coastal weather around Alkham hard on roofs?
It can do. Within about 3 miles of the sea, as Alkham is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
How soon is the report ready?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email with photos included.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
How experienced are you?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, over more than 20 years, and 98% of clients are satisfied.
Do you need access inside the house?
Where we can, yes. From the loft space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If access isn’t possible, we note it in the report.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you when booking.
Useful tips for Alkham property owners
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. What happens next is your decision and the seller’s.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Alkham?
Rear extensions, dormers and garages frequently have flat roofs. A felt roof frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. A buyer can easily miss them, especially when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Take an older house close to Church of St Anthony the Martyr: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Questions to ask before booking
- When you’ll get the report
- What follow-up you get after the report
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Other services in Alkham
Local roofs and buyers in Alkham
Alkham is within about 3 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour. With Acrise Place about 3.9 miles west, Alkham sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For landlords with property near Kearsney station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Alkham is about 3 miles west of Dover, in Kent. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Alkham for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Alkham is one of the places in Kent where we work. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
Here we cover the CT15 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. You will find streets like Alkham Valley Road, Hogbrook Hill Lane and Newlyn's Meadow. We also cover the places around Alkham: South Alkham (1 mile south-west), Chalksole Green (1 mile north-west), Ewell Minnis (1 mile north), Wolverton (1 mile north-east) and Drellingore (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cover Ashford (15 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north-west), Dover (3 miles east), Folkestone (4 miles south-west), Deal (9 miles north-east) and Hythe (8 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Alkham
Typical jobs here are in homes near Sladden Wood and the streets around them. Alkham’s nearest station is Kearsney station, roughly 2.3 miles north-east. A little further out are Folkestone Castle (3.7 miles south-west) and Crabble Corn Mill (2.6 miles east). For a walk, there’s Dover Western Heights and Sugar Loaf Hill.