Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Gravesend, Kent
Wondering about the roof at a property in Gravesend? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Gravesend and across Kent, with plain-English findings.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Old water stains in the loft space
Pre-purchase roof survey in Gravesend
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. Our survey picks it out, with photographs that show you exactly where. We explain each finding in plain English, so you know what it means for the house you’re buying. We survey the roof space, natural slate and lead flashings and valleys, and people most often book us about flashings that have lifted or split and ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof.
In a town like Gravesend, older streets typically sit alongside post-war and newer estates. Older houses often have slate or clay tiles on timbers that have done decades of work, while many later ones have concrete interlocking tiles. For a purchase or a new roof in Gravesend, the type of roof decides where the checks focus. What sits under the tiles, from old felt to modern membranes, matters as much as the tiles themselves.
It isn’t only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Where
- Gravesend (DA12, DA11)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a photo-illustrated written report, sent to you by email. On timing, it usually takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Semi-detached and terraced homes in a town like Gravesend often share a roof line with the neighbours, so we check what can be seen of the shared parts from your side. It helps to know about previous repairs, leaks or recent work, so time on site goes where it’s needed.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- 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.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
How to prepare
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Arrange a survey
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before booking.
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Rented homes, blocks and businesses
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photographs included.
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
Leaning stacks, loose pots and eroded mortar are common findings. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
Lead flashings and valleys
Many older houses have lead in their valleys and hidden gutters. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and lead is also a target for theft.
Gravesend questions
Is Gravesend in the area you cover?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, and Gravesend is part of that. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
How do I find out if my home in Gravesend is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Does someone need to be in?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. We’ll talk about access as you book.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We inspect from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
The visit typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. We’ll give you an idea of timing when booking.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. It is a dedicated roof survey, with a written report and photographs. It is not a RICS survey and does not cover the rest of the house.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
Gravesend homes and their roofs
Gravesend lies within about 2 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain. 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.
Landlords with a home close to Gravesend station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full. Cobham College, about 2.9 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Gravesend. 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. Take an older house close to Christ Church Milton: a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Gravesend is about 9 miles north-west of Gillingham, in Kent. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Gravesend for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across Kent. Our Maidstone page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in DA12 and DA11 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Christ Church Road, Hillside Drive and Laurel Avenue. Gravesend sits on or near the A2 and A226, which makes travel easy. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Windmill Hill (1 mile north-west), Milton-next-Gravesend (1 mile north-east), Denton (1 mile east), Singlewell or Ifield (1 mile south) and Northfleet (1 mile west). We also work in nearby towns such as Maidstone (13 miles south-east), Dartford (7 miles west), Sevenoaks (13 miles south-west), Swanley (9 miles west), Kings Hill (11 miles south) and Foley Park (12 miles south-east).
Near you in Gravesend
Typical jobs here are in homes near Northfleet Urban Country Park, St John's Catholic Comprehensive and St John's Catholic Comprehensive and the streets around them. Gravesend’s nearest station is Gravesend station, roughly 0.9 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Gravesham Museum (0.9 miles north-west) and Stone Castle (4.5 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Sawyers Lake and Gad's Hill.
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
To price your survey, we look at:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Basic, Standard or Premium
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Getting in touch
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Anything about access we should know
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Nearby places to Gravesend
Also in Gravesend
What happens if roof problems are left?
Plenty of buyers go ahead anyway, but with their eyes open. The report shows what needs doing first, so you can plan work before small faults get bigger. Blocked gutters and downpipes on homes in Gravesend overflow onto walls, and damp follows inside. A slipped tile or worn flashing does the same higher up. Neither gets better on its own.
Prices start from £150, including VAT, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. We confirm the price for your survey before you book.
Why us?
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Plain-English reports with photos
- 5,000+ surveys completed
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.
Can I check my roof myself?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.