Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Barfrestone, Kent
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Barfrestone. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Barfrestone
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Most of it cannot be seen from the street. We look closely and record what we see, with photos that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so it’s clear what it means for your purchase. We survey chimney stacks, lead flashings and valleys and clay and concrete tiles, and common reasons people get in touch are sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and blistered or split felt on a flat roof.
Some older homes in villages like Barfrestone are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photo. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Where
- Barfrestone (CT15)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. The whole visit typically takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In a hamlet or village like Barfrestone, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Booking a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Roof by roof
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails that fix it often give out first. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’.
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay and concrete tiles commonly last 50 years or more. Cracked, slipped or missing tiles are noted, and for mismatched replacements that point to past repairs.
Why it is worth a survey now in Barfrestone
Small roof defects let water in slowly. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Finding the cause at the survey stage means you know about it from day one. Outbuildings and barns around Barfrestone are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both with VAT included. You will know the exact price before booking.
Why us?
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- A written report with photographs
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 20+ years’ experience
Read what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Nearby places to Barfrestone
Other services in Barfrestone
Surveys for landlords and agents in Barfrestone
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Common roof problems in Barfrestone
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that do not match can be signs that something has leaked before. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Nicholas, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What exactly goes into their report
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- How soon the report will arrive
Barfrestone homes and their roofs
The wider area around Barfrestone has a long history of building, with Goodnestone Park about 2.7 miles north. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For landlords with property near Shepherds Well station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Barfrestone is about 5 miles north-west of Dover, in Kent. Whether the building in Barfrestone is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Barfrestone is one of the places in Kent we cover. For surveys nearby, see our Canterbury page.
Here we cover the CT15 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Frogham (1 mile north-west), Elvington (1 mile east), Nonington (1 mile north-west), Snowdown (2 miles north-west) and Woolage Village (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Canterbury (9 miles north-west), Margate (14 miles north-east), Dover (5 miles south-east), Folkestone (9 miles south), Ramsgate (12 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (14 miles north-east).
Near you in Barfrestone
For rail, the closest station is Shepherds Well station, about 1.3 miles south-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Buckland Hospital (5.5 miles south-east).
Before and after the survey
Getting the most from a pre-purchase roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Each defect is explained in plain words, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, particularly after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
Barfrestone questions
Is my home in Barfrestone listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. 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 Barfrestone?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
What insurance do you have?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We carry out surveys on any day of the week. To find a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes, you can. The report sets out what we found, with photos, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS home survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.