Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Clapper Hill
We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Clapper Hill and the rest of Kent. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Clapper Hill
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where it applies, a drone inspection, along with a same-day report. Where a flight isn’t possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and inspect from every other safe vantage point. If you’ve noticed standing water on a flat extension roof and flashings that have lifted or split, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on chimney stacks, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and lead flashings and valleys alike.
Some older homes in villages like Clapper Hill are listed or sit 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 is worth knowing which applies, as well as what condition the roof is in. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Location
- Clapper Hill (TN27)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
How it works
There is not much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will take it from there. The survey itself takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Older roofs in small places like Clapper Hill can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- You get in touch after your offer is agreed, with the address and your target exchange date.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from the ground, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- We email a written report with photos and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Note where any stains or damp appear
How to book
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Advice
Also near Clapper Hill
Also in Clapper Hill
FAQs for Clapper Hill
Do you cover smaller places like Clapper Hill?
Yes, Clapper Hill is covered. Our area covers London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
How do I find out if my home in Clapper Hill is listed?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In high wind or heavy rain, a drone can’t fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
Does someone need to be in?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. We’ll talk about access when you book.
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, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
Do I need a roof survey if I’m having a RICS survey?
They do different things. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Our survey complements a RICS survey and doesn’t replace one.
Useful tips for Clapper Hill property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and keep the photos to compare against later. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. Binoculars from ground level are enough for a first look.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Clapper Hill: local notes
Smallhythe Place, about 4.8 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Clapper Hill. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. The covering on a house you’re buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
Clapper Hill is about 10 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. Anywhere in Clapper Hill, we can carry out pre-purchase roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Clapper Hill is one of the places in Kent where we work. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
We work across TN27 for pre-purchase roof surveys. We also cover Fosten Green (1 mile west), East End (1 mile south-west), Parkgate (1 mile south-east), London Beach (2 miles east) and Strood (3 miles south). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles north), Ashford (10 miles east), Foley Park (14 miles north), Paddock Wood (12 miles north-west), Tenterden (3 miles south-east) and Bearsted (12 miles north).
Near you in Clapper Hill
We work in homes and buildings around Wattle Wood, among other places. The closest station to Clapper Hill is Headcorn station, roughly 4.8 miles north. A little further out are Mervyn Quinlan Museum (1.2 miles south-west) and Sissinghurst Castle (2.8 miles north-west).
Surveys for landlords and agents in Clapper Hill
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Clapper Hill. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Even if you go ahead regardless, knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan. The report shows what needs doing first, so you can plan work before small faults get bigger. Older and listed buildings around Clapper Hill may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why book with us
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
Read how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Common roof problems in Clapper Hill
Rear extensions, dormers and garages often have flat roofs. Felt flat roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. They’re easy to overlook on a viewing, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
Signs worth acting on include:
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
If you let a flat or house near Headcorn station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Will the report include photos?
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether VAT is added on top