Medway · London and the South East
Chatham Waterfront Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Chatham Waterfront, with photos and a written report.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Flashings that have lifted or split
Pre-purchase roof surveys for Chatham Waterfront homes and businesses
Pre-purchase roof survey in Chatham Waterfront: what you get
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, 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. If you’ve noticed worn or lifted lead flashings and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In a smaller place like Chatham Waterfront, homes are mostly houses and bungalows, from older cottages to more recent builds. Older roofs may still have their original slates or clay tiles, with fixings and underlay that have done a long stint. 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 frequently have bitumen felt or nothing at all.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Location
- Chatham Waterfront (ME4, ME1, ME7)
- Wider area
- Medway
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
You don’t need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will take it from there. A typical survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. A visit to Chatham Waterfront is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed ahead of time. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- 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.
How to prepare
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Arrange a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or send us an email, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Read more
Useful tips for Chatham Waterfront property owners
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Book once your offer is accepted
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
After strong winds, look at the roof from ground level. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
A stack stands exposed above the roof line. We check the pots, the flaunching, the pointing and the flashings.
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but the nails holding it corrode long before that. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’.
Places near Chatham Waterfront
More services for Chatham Waterfront
Can I check my roof myself?
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Chatham Waterfront homes and their roofs
Chatham Waterfront is within about 3 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
With Restoration House about 0.8 miles west, the area around Chatham Waterfront has a long history. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy. For landlords with property near Chatham station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Chatham Waterfront is about 1 mile east of Rochester, in Medway. From houses to flats and shops in Chatham Waterfront, the roof can be surveyed. Our Medway coverage includes Chatham Waterfront. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Here we cover the ME4, ME1 and ME7 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on New Road, Old Road and Ship Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Being close to the A231, Chatham Waterfront is simple for us to get to for pre-purchase roof surveys. If you’re just outside Chatham Waterfront, we cover Brompton (1 mile north-east), Rochester Riverside (1 mile north-west), Luton (1 mile south-east), Frindsbury (1 mile north-west) and Chatham (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Rainham (4 miles south-east), Park Wood (4 miles south-east), Lordswood (3 miles south), Twydall (3 miles east), Hoo St Werburgh (3 miles north-east) and Wigmore (4 miles south-east).
Near you in Chatham Waterfront
Typical jobs here are in homes near King's Arms, St John Fisher RC Comprehensive School and Former Ordnance Store At Chatham Gun Wharf and the streets around them. Also close by are St Michael the Archangel Church (under half a mile south), Fort Pitt Grammar School (0.5 miles south-west) and The Paddock (less than half a mile north-east). There’s a railway station in Chatham Waterfront itself: Chatham station. A little further out are St. Bartholomew's Hospital (less than half a mile west) and Rochester Castle (1 mile west). The countryside around Chatham Waterfront includes Gad's Hill and Ranscombe Farm.
What we cannot see
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
Common roof problems in Chatham Waterfront
Gutter problems often look minor from the street. 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.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- A ridge or slope that dips
The streets around a church such as Church of St John the Divine are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- What insurance they carry
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
Questions from Chatham Waterfront
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Chatham Waterfront?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Is the coastal weather around Chatham Waterfront hard on roofs?
It can do. Within about 3 miles of the sea, as Chatham Waterfront is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so we need permission from whoever owns or manages the building. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
Allow about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. We will give you an idea of timing as you book.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It works alongside a home survey.
How do I book a survey in Chatham Waterfront?
It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or email us. Let us know the address and a little about the roof. We survey on any day of the week.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It’s your choice, but the two do different jobs. A home survey looks at the whole property, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Our survey complements a RICS survey and does not replace one.