Kent · London and the South East
Deal Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Deal. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Old water stains in the loft space
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Deal
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. We look closely and record what we see, with photos that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you are buying. Typical surveys look at bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and blistered or split felt on a flat roof, across lead flashings and valleys, chimney stacks and clay and concrete tiles.
In a town the size of Deal, most homes are houses rather than flats, so the roof is normally the owner’s alone to look after, apart from details shared with the house next door on semis and terraces. That makes a roof defect a cost that falls on you: it is better to know about it before exchange or before the final payment than afterwards. A photo-illustrated written report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or the roofer.
It isn’t only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Where
- Deal (CT14)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
Tips that help
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Check we’ll be able to get into the roof space
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, while Premium includes a consultation in person. If anything in the report isn’t clear, ask us.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
Other services in Deal
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Deal
Our packages start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- House, block, shop or office
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Building height and the viewpoints available
All our prices include VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You will know the exact price before you book.
What to let us know when you get in touch
You do not need to know any roofing terms. Just let us know:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Deal
Is my home in Deal listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Deal?
Yes. We work right across London and the South East, and Deal is part of that. You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
How long does the survey visit take?
On site, it typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We carry out surveys seven days a week. To arrange a date, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it applies and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
What insurance do you have?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Deal
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. A buyer can easily miss them, because many can only be seen from an upstairs window.
Look out for signs like these:
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Old water stains in the roof space
With Walmer Castle about 1.2 miles south, the area around Deal has a long history. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
What to check before booking
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What the survey will not cover
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
How the survey works
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. For a home in Deal, the main things we need are a way into the loft, a route to the back garden and somewhere to park. If you won’t be there yourself, let us know who will let us in.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- 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’s 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
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Keep pets in another room
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
How to book
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
Honest limits
It is useful to know what a survey won’t do before booking:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Deal
Deal lies within about 1 mile of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you live in an older home near St Saviour's, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. For landlords with property near Deal station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Deal is about 14 miles east of Canterbury, in Kent. Surveys in Deal work the same way as everywhere we cover: a proper look at everything that’s safely in view, photos and a clear written report. Our area takes in places right across Kent. There is also a page for Canterbury.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in CT14 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. That includes homes and businesses on London Road, Forelands Square and Herschell Square and the roads around them. Deal sits on or near the A258 and B2056, so getting to you is simple. We also cover Mill Hill (1 mile west), Walmer (1 mile south), Sholden (1 mile north-west), Sholden Meadows (1 mile north-west) and Great Mongeham (1 mile west). We also work in nearby towns such as Canterbury (14 miles west), Margate (11 miles north), Dover (7 miles south-west), Folkestone (13 miles south-west), Ramsgate (8 miles north) and Broadstairs (10 miles north).
Around Deal
We work in homes and buildings around Betteshanger Park, Brickmakers Arms and Deal Parochial Church of England Primary School. The closest station to Deal is Deal station, roughly 0.5 miles north-east. Nearby you will also find Kent Museum of the Moving Image (0.6 miles north-east) and Deal Castle (0.5 miles east).