Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Capel-le-Ferne
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Capel-le-Ferne, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Capel-le-Ferne
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Most of it cannot be seen from the street. We look closely and record what we see, with photographs that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so it is clear what it means for your purchase. Typical surveys look at cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and slates or tiles that have slipped or gone, across lead flashings and valleys, the roof space and gutters and downpipes.
Being in a small place like Capel-le-Ferne makes no difference to the inspection itself: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed ahead of time. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked seven days a week.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Photos show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Place
- Capel-le-Ferne (CT18)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. For a village or hamlet like Capel-le-Ferne, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We agree a time and how we will get in, including the loft.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it’s safe.
- Coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are checked and photographed.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Arrange a survey
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email, let us know about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Read more
Useful tips for Capel-le-Ferne property owners
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, so each quote covers the same ground.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Watch for gaps in the pointing, cracked flaunching and loose lead. Binoculars from the ground are enough for a first look.
What we look for on each type of roof
Clay and concrete tiles
Older homes in the South East frequently have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles on some. Rotten pegs let tiles slide, so we look for gaps along the courses.
Lead flashings and valleys
Lead-lined valleys and gutters are common on older homes in London and the South East. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and lead is also a target for theft.
What we’re asked to look at in Capel-le-Ferne
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that isn’t obvious at first. Overflowing water soaks walls and can rot the timber behind. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. We check them as part of the survey.
People usually book a survey after spotting one of these:
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
The streets around a church such as St Radigund are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Before booking anyone
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- What happens after the report arrives
- Their insurance cover
- Which limits apply to the survey
What we cannot see
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- A structural engineer’s report
- Asbestos testing of any kind
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Capel-le-Ferne: local notes
Capel-le-Ferne lies within about 1 mile of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, which is worth knowing before you buy or pay for new work. Historic houses like Acrise Place, about 4.2 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Capel-le-Ferne goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters.
For landlords with property near Folkestone Central station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Capel-le-Ferne is about 2 miles north-east of Folkestone, in Kent. We survey roofs in Capel-le-Ferne as part of our work across London and South East England. Capel-le-Ferne is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: CT18. You will find streets such as New Dover Road, Alexandra Road and Clarence Road, and we cover them all. We also cover Satmar (1 mile north-east), West Hougham (1 mile north-east), Drellingore (2 miles north), South Alkham (2 miles north) and Church Hougham (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Ashford (15 miles west), Canterbury (13 miles north-west), Dover (4 miles north-east), Deal (11 miles north-east), Hythe (6 miles west) and Tower Hamlets (4 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Capel-le-Ferne
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to East Cliff and Warren Country Park and The Valiant Sailor pub, among other places. The closest station to Capel-le-Ferne is Folkestone Central station, about 2.4 miles south-west. Other landmarks nearby include Folkestone Castle (2.3 miles west) and Royal Victoria Hospital (2.1 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Sugar Loaf Hill and Dover Western Heights.
For landlords and managing agents
Landlords and agents in Capel-le-Ferne book surveys as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photographs, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when booking and we will plan the survey around it.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Capel-le-Ferne
Is the coastal weather around Capel-le-Ferne hard on roofs?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Capel-le-Ferne?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It does not stand in for a RICS survey.
How soon is the report ready?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Tell us your exchange date and we’ll help you choose.
Is this the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a dedicated roof survey, with a written report and photos. It does not cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Where possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years.