Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Guston, Kent
Independent pre-purchase roof surveys in Guston. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Guston
A roof report gives you something solid to take back to the seller or the agent. You might ask about past repairs, ask for work to be done before completion or think again about your offer. We cannot say how a seller will respond, but you’ll be asking from facts rather than guesses. It also helps you decide whether to go ahead at all. If you’ve noticed gutters choked with leaves and moss and slipped or missing slates and tiles, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Guston, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings frequently sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Where
- Guston (CT15)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Local roofs and buyers in Guston
Guston lies within about 2 miles of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain. Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
With Walmer Castle about 4.7 miles north-east, the area around Guston has a long history. If you are buying an older home nearby, it is worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing. The streets around a church such as Church of St Martin of Tours are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Guston is about 2 miles north-east of Dover, in Kent. Roofs in Guston get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Kent. We cover towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
All of CT15 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on The Street, Chance Meadow and The Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Guston: East Langdon (1 mile north-east), Church Whitfield (1 mile north-west), West Cliffe (1 mile east), Martin Mill (2 miles north-east) and Charlton-in-Dover (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Canterbury (14 miles north-west), Folkestone (8 miles south-west), Ramsgate (13 miles north), Broadstairs (15 miles north), Deal (5 miles north-east) and Hythe (12 miles south-west).
Near you in Guston
We work in homes and buildings around Connaught Park, St Edmund's Catholic School and Swingate Inn, among other places. Guston’s nearest station is Martin Mill station, about 1.6 miles north-east. A little further out are Royal Victoria Hospital (1.9 miles south) and Dover Castle (1.8 miles south). The countryside around Guston includes Dover Western Heights.
Questions from Guston
Is my home in Guston listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Guston?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Do you cover Guston for pre-purchase roof surveys?
Yes. We survey roofs in Guston and the rest of Kent. For a price, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes, you can. The report sets out what we found, with photos, which you can share with the seller or agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
How long will you be at the property?
On site, it usually takes roughly 1–2 hours for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
What happens on the day
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Older rural homes like those around Guston can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before the survey
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Book a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
Related advice
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when booking.
What this survey can’t tell you
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
- A structural engineer’s report
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Guston?
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 our report flags materials that could contain it and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before work starts.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Old water stains in the loft space
For landlords with property near Martin Mill station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Questions to ask before booking
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Their insurance cover
Towns and villages near Guston
What else we do in Guston
Why act early in Guston
After exchange, any roof defect is yours to deal with. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. A survey after you’ve moved in tells you the same things, but too late to use them in the purchase. In a place like Guston, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why book with us
- An independent view of the roof
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Package prices that include VAT
- 5,000+ surveys completed
What a survey costs
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The size of the roof
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included.
Helping us price your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- Anything about access we should know
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, call 07833 053749 or email us.