Kent · London and the South East
Arpinge Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Arpinge. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
When you need someone else
A survey is a close look at the roof, but it can’t do everything. Its limits include:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Arpinge
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. That is when the findings are most useful, while you’re not yet committed. Visits run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when the chain is moving fast. The report comes within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. If you’ve noticed cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and slates or tiles that have slipped or gone, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Being in a small place like Arpinge makes no difference to the inspection itself: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed in advance. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them as you book. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked on weekdays and at weekends.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Where
- Arpinge (CT18)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, like stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll take it from there. A typical survey takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. For a village or hamlet like Arpinge, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Before we arrive
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
Getting a price
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.
Related advice
Useful tips for Arpinge property owners
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. A few suggestions:
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Tell us your exchange date when you book
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. The photos show the defects and where they are, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
What we’re asked to look at in Arpinge
Gutter problems often look minor from the street. Overflowing water soaks walls and can rot the timber behind. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the house. They’re part of what we look at.
People usually book a survey after spotting one of these:
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
With Acrise Place about 2.1 miles north, the area around Arpinge has a long history. If you are buying an older home nearby, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- Whether the price includes VAT
Checking the roof from ground level
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Common questions in Arpinge
How do I find out if my home in Arpinge is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Will you come out to Arpinge?
Yes, Arpinge is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed, with photographs.
Do I need to be at home?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access as you book.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It does not stand in for a RICS survey.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. You need the report before you exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is 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.
What we look for on each type of roof
Natural slate
Good slate is one of the longest-lasting roof coverings, yet the nails that fix it often give out first. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’, and we note how widespread it looks.
Flat roofs
Many homes have a flat roof somewhere, often over an extension. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We look for signs of age and failure.
Nearby places to Arpinge
What else we do in Arpinge
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Arpinge: local notes
The coast is about 3 miles or less from Arpinge, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, which is worth knowing before you buy or pay for new work. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Landlords with a home close to Folkestone West station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. Take an older house close to St Oswald's Church: older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Arpinge is about 1 mile south-west of Hawkinge, in Kent. Anywhere in Arpinge, we can come and survey your property. Arpinge is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. Canterbury is in our area too.
We work across the CT18 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We also cover Hawkinge (1 mile north-east), Densole (2 miles north-east), Old Hawkinge (2 miles east), Swingfield Minnis (3 miles north-east) and Elham (3 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Ashford (12 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north), Dover (8 miles east), Deal (14 miles north-east), Hythe (3 miles south-west) and Tower Hamlets (7 miles east).
Local landmarks in Arpinge
We work in homes and buildings around The Cat & Custard Pot pub. The closest station to Arpinge is Folkestone West station, roughly 1.7 miles south-east of the centre. A little further out are Royal Victoria Hospital (2.2 miles south-east) and Folkestone Castle (1.4 miles south-east). The countryside around Arpinge includes Cheriton Hill.