Medway · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Cliffe, Medway
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat for Cliffe, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
Pre-purchase roof survey in Cliffe
Buying a home is a big commitment, and the roof is one of the costliest parts to put right. Our pre-purchase roof survey gives you a proper look at it before you are committed. We check the slates or tiles, the ridges and valleys, the flashings, the chimneys and the gutters, and the loft space where it is safe to get in. You get a written report with photos. Common reasons to book are loose pots and cracked flaunching and old water stains in the roof space, on lead flashings and valleys, the roof space and natural slate.
Older buildings in small places like Cliffe may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
After the visit, you get a report with photographs, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Cliffe (ME3)
- Region
- Medway
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Why get it checked now?
Without a survey, you’re relying on a glance from the pavement. That won’t show slipped slates on the rear slope, a worn valley or cracked flaunching. We fill that gap before you are tied in. For older village homes like those around Cliffe, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why us?
- Visits on any day of the week
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
Read our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
When you need someone else
Before booking, it’s worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- A structural engineer’s report
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will point you to the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
Local roofs and buyers in Cliffe
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Cliffe, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, so exposed details get a proper look whether you are buying or signing off new work. Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Helen are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. Temple Manor lies about 4.9 miles south, so building around Cliffe goes back a long way. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area. If you own a rental within reach of Higham station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Cliffe is about 5 miles north of Rochester, in Medway. We cover Cliffe and the rest of Medway, as part of our work across London and the South East. Our area takes in places right across Medway. There’s also a page for Maidstone.
We cover every part of the ME3 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Station Road, St Helens Road and Chesterton Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Cliffe Woods (2 miles south), Church Street (2 miles south-west), Mockbeggar (3 miles south), Lower Higham (3 miles south-west) and Higham (4 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Gillingham (7 miles south-east), Chatham (7 miles south), Rochester (5 miles south), Rainham (8 miles south-east), Strood (5 miles south) and Luton (6 miles south).
Landmarks near Cliffe
We work in homes and buildings around The Evening Star pub and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Higham station, roughly 2.6 miles south-west. A little further out are French Hospital (4.9 miles south) and Upnor Castle (3.8 miles south). Not far away are Gad's Hill and Thurrock Thameside Nature Park.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
All our prices include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Booking your survey
You don’t need to know any roofing terms. It is enough to let us know:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- What made you get in touch
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
We survey roofs seven days a week. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Tips that help
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Deal with the urgent items first, and keep the photos to compare against later. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up to see how things have changed.
After strong winds, look at the roof from the ground. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
Towns and villages near Cliffe
Also in Cliffe
Cliffe: your questions answered
Is Cliffe within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Is my home in Cliffe listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes, you can. You’ll have photos and a written description of each defect, which you can share with the seller or agent. We can’t promise how the seller will respond.
What if it rains on the day?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drones can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. If the conditions are not right, we will talk to you about another date.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where it applies.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We check the parts we’re given access to.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
How it works
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take about one to two hours for a house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. In a hamlet or village like Cliffe, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- We agree a time and how we’ll 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.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
How to prepare
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Getting a price
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Read more
Checking the roof from the ground
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.