Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Barham, Kent
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Barham, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photos.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Flashings that have lifted or split
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Barham
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where it applies and an in-person consultation. Pick the one that fits the property. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. Common reasons to book are a ridge or slope that dips and cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing, across lead flashings and valleys, gutters and downpipes and flat-roofed extensions and dormers.
Older buildings in small places like Barham may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it’s worth knowing which applies. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Location
- Barham (CT4)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from Barham
Is Barham within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Is my home in Barham 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 fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes, you can. You’ll have photos and a written description of each defect, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. You need the report before you exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
What if it rains on the day?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions are not right, we will talk to you about another date.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we will explain what’s needed.
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
Survey packages start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Which survey package you book
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Booking your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
How it works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take about one to two hours for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Rural addresses near Barham can be hard to find from a postcode alone, 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.
- You book once your offer is accepted and tell us the address and your timetable.
- 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 is safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Book a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or email us to find out.
Advice
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and South East England. Worn or cracked lead lets water straight into the roof, and missing lead is not unknown, as it’s a target for thieves.
Flat roofs
Many homes have a flat roof somewhere, frequently over an extension. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We check how the covering is wearing.
What happens if roof problems are left?
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. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Barham, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for the job before booking.
Why us?
- Package prices that include VAT
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Every finding written up with photos
Read what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Nearby places to Barham
More services for Barham
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Barham
About 3.9 miles north-east lies Goodnestone Park, a reminder of how long the area around Barham has been built on. 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. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
If you let a flat or house near Snowdown station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Barham is about 6 miles south-east of Canterbury, in Kent. We survey roofs in Barham and the rest of Kent, as part of our work across London and the South East. Across Kent, we cover Barham. Our Canterbury page covers surveys nearby.
We survey roofs across CT4 for pre-purchase roof surveys. We cover properties on The Street, Valley Road and Church Lane. Other places close to Barham include Derringstone (1 mile south), Gravel Castle (1 mile south-east), Heart's Delight (1 mile south-west), Out Elmstead (1 mile north) and Kingston (1 mile north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Ashford (13 miles west), Canterbury (6 miles north-west), Margate (15 miles north-east), Dover (8 miles south-east), Folkestone (8 miles south) and Ramsgate (14 miles north-east).
Near you in Barham
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Jumping Downs and Black Robin Public House, among other places. The closest station to Barham is Snowdown station, roughly 2.4 miles east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Kent and Canterbury Hospital (5.1 miles north-west).
Landlord and commercial surveys in Barham
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photos included.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed in advance. We survey on any day of the week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Common roof problems in Barham
The fixings and underlay often fail before good slates or tiles do. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but corroded nails let slates slip. That kind of wear is common on older roofs.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St John the Baptist, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- When you will get the report
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?