Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Ash, Kent
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Ash, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Ash
Some roofs cannot be seen well from the ground or from windows. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where applicable, along with a same-day report. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we’ll say so and inspect from every other safe vantage point. Common reasons to book are patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem and lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney, across flat-roofed extensions and dormers, chimney stacks and natural slate.
Houses in smaller places like Ash can stand more in the open than those in a built-up town, which can mean more wind and rain on the roof. Loose ridge tiles, lifted coverings and tired flashings are the kind of things that show it. For a purchase or a new roof, those exposed edges are checked closely. Wind lifts anything already loose, so a small fault on an exposed roof does not stay small for long.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Ash (CT3)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Ash?
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Good slate can last well over a century, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. It is a frequent finding on older houses.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
For landlords with property near Sandwich station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Questions to ask before you book
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
Ash homes and their roofs
Ash is within about 5 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 Goodnestone Park about 3.3 miles south-west, Ash 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 any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Nicholas are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Ash is about 7 miles north-west of Deal, in Kent. We provide pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Ash and the surrounding area. Our area takes in places right across Kent. For surveys nearby, see our Canterbury page.
Surveys in CT3 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on The Street, Goodban Square and Chilton Place and the roads around them. Other places close to Ash include Guilton (1 mile west), Weddington (1 mile north-east), Durlock (1 mile west), Cop Street (1 mile north) and Coombe (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (9 miles west), Margate (8 miles north-east), Dover (10 miles south), Folkestone (14 miles south), Ramsgate (7 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (9 miles north-east).
What’s near Ash
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Chequer Inn, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Sandwich station, roughly 2.8 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include White Mill (2.1 miles east). The countryside around Ash includes Monk's Wall nature reserve.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A slow leak can go unnoticed for months. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Finding the cause at the survey stage lets you deal with it as soon as you move in. Homes in smaller places like Ash can face more weather, so a loose ridge or verge soon lets rain in. Wind gets under it and lifts more, and water follows.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Ash
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- An independent view of the roof
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Every finding written up with photos
See our cost guide and two real surveys.
For landlords and managing agents
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll recommend the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Ash
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
Can I check my roof myself?
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
Common questions in Ash
Is the coastal weather around Ash hard on roofs?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
How do I find out if my home in Ash is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you go up on the roof?
Where it is safe, yes. We inspect from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
They do different things. A home survey looks at the whole property, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. 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.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. The outcome is between you and the seller, so we cannot promise any saving.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
Also near Ash
What else we do in Ash
How it works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. If you have questions on the day, just ask. For a survey in Ash, we agree the time, the access and parking before the day. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed beforehand.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Before the survey
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
How to book
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.