Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Ashford, Kent
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Ashford, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
Pre-purchase roof survey in Ashford
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a careful look at it before you’re committed. We check the coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and the loft space where it’s safe to get in. You get a report with photos. We’re often asked to look into patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem and gutters that overflow or drip at the joints, on natural slate, gutters and downpipes and chimney stacks.
Property in a place the size of Ashford can change hands quickly, and roof problems are easy to miss on a viewing. Equally, a new roof can look tidy from the street while small snags hide at the ridge, valleys or flashings. A careful look before you commit, to a purchase or to the final payment, gives you something in writing to raise.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Ashford (TN23, TN24, TN25, TN26)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Ashford
Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. The wider area around Ashford has a long history of building, with Godinton House about 2 miles north-west. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Christ Church, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Ashford is in Kent. We survey roofs in Ashford and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and South East England. Ashford is one of the places in Kent where we work. Our Canterbury page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of TN23, TN24, TN25 and TN26 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. That includes homes and businesses on Market Lane, Church Road and Station Road and the roads around them. Main roads around Ashford include the A20 and A28, so getting to you is simple. Close by, we survey roofs in Stanhope (1 mile south-west), Newtown (1 mile south-east), South Willesborough (1 mile south-east), Godinton (1 mile north-west) and Willesborough (1 mile east). Further out, we also cover Canterbury (13 miles north-east), Sittingbourne (15 miles north), Folkestone (14 miles east), Faversham (12 miles north), Hythe (10 miles south-east) and Davington (12 miles north). Being one of Kent’s larger places, Ashford has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind.
Landmarks near Ashford
In Ashford, that means homes and buildings near The Locomotive pub, Ashford Green Corridors and Ashford School and the streets around them. Ashford has its own railway station: Ashford International station. Well-known places in the area include William Harvey Hospital (2.1 miles east) and Ashford Designer Outlet (0.6 miles south-east). Open spaces near Ashford include Hatch Park.
What this survey cannot tell you
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
Ashford: your questions answered
Do you carry out roof surveys in Ashford?
Yes, Ashford is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Ashford as anywhere else.
Is there anything to prepare before you come to Ashford?
Mostly, it is about access: the loft hatch, any locked gates and where to park in Ashford. It also helps to know about any leaks or earlier repairs.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Ideally, yes. We look in the roof space where there is safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is normally arranged through the agent or seller.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
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.
How do I book a survey in Ashford?
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or email us and tell us the address and what you want to find out. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Also near Ashford
Other services in Ashford
How the survey changes by roof type
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but the nails holding it corrode long before that. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’, and we note how widespread it looks.
Gutters and parapets
Gutters, downpipes and outlets carry water away from walls. We check for blockages, leaking joints and sagging runs.
What affects the price in Ashford
We confirm the price for your roof before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Which survey package you book
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Booking your survey
These details help when you contact us:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- What’s prompted the survey
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
How it works
Safety comes first on every visit. We inspect everything that’s safely in view, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. The survey usually takes about one to two hours at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In busier parts of Ashford, parking can be tight, so let us know about driveways, permits or nearby car parks. On the day, we check the roof from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe, with the drone where it applies.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Before we arrive
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Find any records of previous roof work
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Book a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before you book.
Read more
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Ashford?
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. Felt flat roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
Landlords with a home close to Ashford International station may find that a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Questions to ask before you book
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What exactly goes into their report
Tips that help
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Keep the loft ventilated. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.