Medway · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Hale, Medway
Not sure what state the roof is in? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Hale and across Medway.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
What we’re asked to look at in Hale
Most viewings never get near the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates, and a quick glance from the street misses a lot. New paint on a ceiling can hide old water stains, so a closer look is worth having before you commit.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
Take an older house close to Christ Church: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs frequently have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- What insurance they carry
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
Pre-purchase roof survey in Hale
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Most of it can’t be seen from the street. We look closely and record what we see, with photographs that show you exactly where. We explain each finding in plain English, so you know what it means for the house you are buying. We’re often asked to look into worn or lifted lead flashings and gutters choked with leaves and moss, across clay and concrete tiles, flat-roofed extensions and dormers and chimney stacks.
For a small place like Hale, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book. Whether you are buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Hale (ME5)
- Region
- Medway
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Hale
How do I find out if my home in Hale is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Can you fly a drone over a roof in Hale?
That depends on where the roof is and on the weather. Hale is about 3 miles from Rochester Airport, so the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions around it before we fly. The flight also waits for calm, dry weather, though the rest of the survey goes ahead either way.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where possible, yes. We look in the loft space where there’s safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is normally arranged through the agent or seller.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes. Buyers use the findings to ask questions, ask for repairs before completion or ask for a price change. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It is your choice, but the two do different jobs. A home survey looks at the whole property, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
What insurance do you have?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
What a survey costs
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Which survey package you book
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
What to let us know when you get in touch
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, let us know:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- The property’s address and postcode
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- What’s prompted the survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to ring 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.
The survey, step by step
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. In total, it takes about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Somewhere like Hale needs a little journey planning: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
Booking a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.
Advice
Tips from our surveys
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. A few suggestions:
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
With Standard, you get a follow-up consultation, while Premium includes a consultation in person. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Sellers are not always aware of roof problems. Their answers on the property forms only cover what they know about. Our survey shows you the roof as it is today. Around Hale, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why book with us
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
- Photos and a written report every time
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
- 98% customer satisfaction
Read how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
Also in Hale
Checking the roof from the ground
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
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.
Buying a home or a new roof in Hale
The coast is about 3 miles or less from Hale, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Corroded clips and nails and lifted ridge pieces are typical of exposed roofs near the sea. Rochester Airport is about 3 miles from Hale. Where the drone is part of the survey, the Drone Safety Map is checked for restrictions first.
With Restoration House about 2.7 miles north-west, the area around Hale has a long history. If you’re buying an older home nearby, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing. Landlords with a home close to Gillingham (Kent) station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Hale is about 1 mile south-west of Gillingham, in Medway. From houses to flats and shops in Hale, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. We cover towns and villages across Medway. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
Every address in ME5 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We also cover Darland (1 mile south-east), Capstone (1 mile south-east), Luton (1 mile north-west), Gillingham (1 mile north-east) and Chatham (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include Rochester (3 miles north-west), Strood (4 miles north-west), Hoo St Werburgh (4 miles north), Rochester Riverside (3 miles north-west), Peters Village (4 miles west) and Frindsbury (3 miles north-west).
What’s near Hale
We work in homes and buildings around The Star pub, Chatham Grammar School for Girls and Darland Banks, among other places. The nearest railway station is Gillingham (Kent) station, about 1.6 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Rochester Castle (2.9 miles north-west) and Pentagon Shopping Centre (1.9 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Blue Bell Hill and Burham Down.