Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Forstal
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Forstal, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Old water stains in the roof space
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Forstal
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where it applies and an in-person consultation. Pick the one that fits the property. All three include a written report with photographs and recommendations. Common reasons to book are quick fixes on flashings and valleys and a ridge or slope that dips, across chimney stacks, clay and concrete tiles and the roof space.
Older buildings in small places like Forstal may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you’re buying or signing off new roofing, it’s worth knowing where you stand. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- Forstal (ME20)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
It helps to know what a survey won’t do before you book:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
What we are asked to look at in Forstal
Buildings put up or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. Cement roof sheets, soffits and flue pipes are typical places to find it. We do not carry out asbestos surveys, but we flag materials that might and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before work starts.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
For landlords with property near Aylesford station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
What to check before booking
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What insurance they carry
- What happens after the report arrives
Roof by roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Many leaks start at a flashing, so we check each one closely. Any that need attention are photographed and explained.
Chimney stacks
Chimney stacks take the brunt of the weather. We check the pots, the flaunching, the pointing and the flashings.
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Ask for loft access on the day
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. The photos show the defects and where they are, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air cannot flow.
Other services in Forstal
Forstal questions
Do you carry out roof surveys in Forstal?
Yes, Forstal is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details.
Is my home in Forstal listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
Once your offer has been accepted, and before exchange. That gives you time to use the findings, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with the freeholder or managing agent. Tell us about it when you book and we’ll explain what’s needed.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and details are available on request.
What we do, step by step
We do not take risks to get a closer look. We inspect everything that’s safely in view, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. In a hamlet or village like Forstal, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
Getting a price
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Forstal
Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. The wider area around Forstal has a long history of building, with Starkey Castle about 4.4 miles north. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years.
For an older house near a landmark such as Methodist Church Including Sunday School, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Forstal is about 3 miles north-west of Maidstone, in Kent. We survey roofs in Forstal and the rest of Kent, as part of our work across London and South East England. Our Kent coverage includes Forstal.
We cover every part of ME20 for pre-purchase roof surveys. Local streets include Beddow Way and Forstal Road. We also cover the places around Forstal: Pratling Street (1 mile north-east), Eccles (1 mile north-west), New Hythe (2 miles west), Burham (2 miles north) and Larkfield (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (3 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (11 miles east), Dartford (15 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (13 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (15 miles south-west) and Gravesend (10 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Forstal
We work in homes and buildings around Aylesford School, The Bush pub and Tyland Barn, among other places. Forstal’s nearest station is Aylesford station, roughly 1.2 miles west. A little further out are Medway megaliths (1 mile north) and Maidstone Hospital (2 miles south). Open spaces near Forstal include Boxley Hills and Burham Down.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Leaving it means judging the roof from the street. That rarely shows the back slope, the valleys or the top of the chimney. A survey fills that gap before you commit. In a place like Forstal, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before you book.
What you get with us
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
See what a roof survey costs and our case studies.