Medway · London and the South East
Borstal Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Borstal, with photographs and a written report.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Borstal
Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999. Cement roof sheets, soffits and flue pipes are typical places to find it. We don’t test for it or carry out asbestos surveys, but our report flags materials that could contain it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
The streets around a church like St Matthew's are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether the price includes VAT
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Borstal
Older homes frequently have roofs that have been patched over the years. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Most of it cannot be seen from the street. Our survey picks it out, with photographs that show you exactly where. We explain each finding in plain English, so it is clear what it means for your purchase. We survey the roof space, chimney stacks and flat-roofed extensions and dormers, and common reasons people get in touch are chimney mortar that has eroded and blistered or split felt on a flat roof.
In a smaller place like Borstal, homes are mostly houses and bungalows, from older cottages to more recent builds. In older homes, the slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay holding them. For a purchase or a newly replaced roof, what’s under the coverings matters as much as what’s on top. Breathable membranes only appeared in the late 1990s, so older roofs often have bitumen felt or nothing at all.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- Borstal (ME1, ME2)
- Wider area
- Medway
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the roof as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It normally takes about 1–2 hours for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Being in a smaller place like Borstal does not change how the visit works: outside, inside and from any safe vantage point, in that order. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Book 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, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
What we look for on each type of roof
Gutters and parapets
Gutters, downpipes and outlets carry water away from walls. Leaking joints, sagging lengths and blockages are all noted.
Natural slate
Good slate is one of the longest-lasting roof coverings, yet the nails that fix it frequently give out first. When slates start to slip, corroded nails are frequently the reason.
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
A survey is a careful look at the roof, but it can’t do everything. Its limits include:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Borstal
To price your survey, we check:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- How big the roof is
- Height and safe access
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Booking your survey
There is no need for technical words. It is enough to tell us:
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- What made you get in touch
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Common questions in Borstal
How do I find out if my home in Borstal is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you cover smaller places like Borstal?
Yes, Borstal is covered. Our area covers London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it isn’t a RICS home survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
How quickly will I get the report?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Tell us your exchange date and we’ll help you choose.
How long does the survey visit take?
The visit typically takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. We’ll give you an idea of timing as you book.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Places near Borstal
What else we do in Borstal
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photos included.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Borstal: local notes
Borstal is within about 4 miles of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. About 1 mile north lies Temple Manor, a reminder of how long the area around Borstal 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 the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you own a rental within reach of Cuxton station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Borstal is about 1 mile south-west of Rochester, in Medway. We survey roofs in Borstal and the rest of Medway, as part of our work across London and the South East. Our Medway coverage includes Borstal and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
We survey roofs across ME1 and ME2 for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Hill Road, Manor Lane and Mount Road or anywhere close by, we can help. Borstal is on the M2, which makes it straightforward to reach. Other places close to Borstal include Rochester (1 mile north-east), Strood (1 mile north), Cuxton (1 mile west), North Halling (2 miles west) and Wouldham (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Gillingham (4 miles east), Rainham (5 miles east), Park Wood (5 miles east), Lordswood (4 miles south-east), Twydall (4 miles east) and Hoo St Werburgh (5 miles north-east).
Near you in Borstal
Typical jobs here are in homes near Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, Former Ordnance Store At Chatham Gun Wharf and St John Fisher RC Comprehensive School, among other places. Borstal’s nearest station is Cuxton station, about 1 mile west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Six Poor Travellers House (1.3 miles north-east) and Rochester Castle (1.3 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Blue Bell Hill and Ranscombe Farm.