Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Hawley, Kent
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Hawley, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Hawley
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where applicable, along with a same-day report. Where a flight is not possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and inspect from every other safe vantage point. We survey the roof space, gutters and downpipes and chimney stacks, and people most often book us about lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and a ridge or slope that dips.
Somewhere as small as Hawley, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
Where we can’t see part of the roof, the report says so. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Hawley (DA2)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Hawley
Most viewings never get near the roof. You walk round the rooms, but the roof stays out of sight, and a quick glance from the street misses a lot. New paint on a ceiling can hide old water stains, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Landlords with a home close to Farningham Road station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Questions to ask before booking
- When you will get the report
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
What affects the cost of pre-purchase roof surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- Roof area
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What we need to know
You do not need to know any roofing terms. Just let us know:
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when you book.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.
Places near Hawley
Also in Hawley
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roofs
Flat roofs on extensions, dormers and garages are easy to forget about. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We check how the covering is wearing.
Gutters and parapets
The rainwater system keeps water off the walls. Leaking joints, sagging lengths and blockages are all noted, along with fascias and soffits.
What we do, step by step
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. It usually takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Rural addresses near Hawley can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed beforehand.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations before you exchange.
Preparing for the visit
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Find any records of previous roof work
Book a survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Read more
Buying a home or a new roof in Hawley
Across Kent, older roofs are frequently 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. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about. The wider area around Hawley has a long history of building, with Hall Place and Gardens about 3.3 miles north-west. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
Take an older house close to Church of St John the Baptist: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Hawley is about 1 mile south of Dartford, in Kent. In Hawley, as across Kent, every roof gets the same careful survey. Across Kent, we cover Hawley and the places around it. London is in our area too.
Surveys in DA2 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Ash Road, May Road and Shirehall Road or a nearby road, we can help. Other places close to Hawley include Clement Street (1 mile south-west), Sutton at Hone (1 mile south-east), Darenth (1 mile east), Dartford (1 mile north) and St Margarets (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns like Sevenoaks (10 miles south), Gravesend (7 miles east), Northfleet (5 miles east), Swanley (3 miles south-west), Kings Hill (13 miles south-east) and Swanscombe (3 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Hawley
Typical jobs here are in homes near Darenth Country Park, Leigh Academy and The Four Lymes pub and the streets around them. Hawley’s nearest station is Farningham Road station, roughly 1.5 miles south. Nearby you will also find Bluewater (2.4 miles north-east) and Darenth Park Hospital (1.7 miles north-east). Not far away are Wansunt Pit and Sawyers Lake.
Useful tips for Hawley property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Each defect is explained in plain words, and recommendations are ranked by urgency where that helps.
After strong winds, look at the roof from the ground. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
Common questions in Hawley
How do I find out if my home in Hawley is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you cover smaller places like Hawley?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
Will you need to get into the loft?
If it can be arranged, yes. From the loft space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If we cannot get in, the report says so.
How do I book a survey in Hawley?
To book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what you want to find out. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.