Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Chart Sutton
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Chart Sutton, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Old water stains in the roof space
Questions from Chart Sutton
Will you come out to Chart Sutton?
Yes, Chart Sutton is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Chart Sutton?
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.
How soon is the report ready?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed with photos included.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
How long does the survey visit take?
It typically takes between one and two hours at most homes, and longer for a large or complex roof. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
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, so we cannot promise any saving.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Chart Sutton
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. We look closely and record what we see, with photos so you can see it for yourself. We explain each finding in plain English, so you know what it means for the house you are buying. Typical surveys look at sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and chimney mortar that has eroded, across lead flashings and valleys, gutters and downpipes and clay and concrete tiles.
For a small place like Chart Sutton, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Visits can be booked on weekdays and at weekends.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Place
- Chart Sutton (ME17)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It normally takes about one to two hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Somewhere like Chart Sutton needs a little journey planning: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- Once your offer is accepted, you let us know the address and when you hope to exchange.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed ahead of time.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations before you exchange.
Before the survey
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Arrange a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
When you need someone else
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Whether timbers meet design loads
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we will recommend the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That’s where a survey comes in.
Nearby places to Chart Sutton
What else we do in Chart Sutton
Why it is worth a survey now in Chart Sutton
A seller may honestly not know the state of the roof. The forms they complete only show what they’re aware of. An independent look tells you how the roof is now. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Chart Sutton, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Why us?
- Over 20 years’ experience
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
See our cost guide and two real surveys.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Chart Sutton
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. 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. Whether you are buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
If you own a rental within reach of Bearsted station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer. Stoneacre, about 2 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Chart Sutton. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later. If you live in an older home near Church of St Michael, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Chart Sutton is about 3 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. Chart Sutton is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Our Kent coverage includes Chart Sutton and the places around it.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: ME17. Whether your property is on Plough Wents Road, Amber Lane and Marsham Crescent or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover Wierton (1 mile south-west), Five Wents (1 mile east), Warmlake (1 mile east), Langley (1 mile north-east) and Sutton Valence (1 mile south-east). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (3 miles north-west), Ashford (14 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (11 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles south-west), Tonbridge (13 miles west) and Faversham (15 miles north-east).
Around Chart Sutton
Around Chart Sutton, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Plough Inn, Cornwallis Academy and Senacre Technology College, among other places. The closest station to Chart Sutton is Bearsted station, about 3.6 miles north of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include KIMS hospital (4.4 miles north) and The Dog Collar Museum (3.1 miles north-east).
Landlord and commercial surveys in Chart Sutton
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when you book and we will plan the survey around it.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. We survey on any day of the week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Roof by roof
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. Where we can see them safely, we check the linings and outlets.