Kent · London and the South East
Herne Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Herne, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
Pre-purchase roof survey in Herne
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. We look closely and record what we see, with photographs that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you’re buying. Common reasons to book are flashings that have lifted or split and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose, on chimney stacks, clay and concrete tiles and natural slate.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Herne, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Low roofs are easier to see from ground level, but dormer cheeks, valleys and flat-roofed additions still need close attention. That applies whether you are buying in Herne or checking a new roof there. Lead around a dormer and the edges of a flat roof are common places for snags and wear alike.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Herne (CT6)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Herne
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
Towns and villages near Herne
Other services in Herne
How we price pre-purchase roof surveys
Survey packages start from £150, including VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Booking your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- The property’s address and postcode
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
For a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Herne, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. A few details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
The survey, step by step
Safety comes first on every visit. We inspect what can be seen safely, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. A visit to a smaller place like Herne is no different on the day: we look from ground level, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it’s safe. It helps to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
Arrange a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
FAQs for Herne
Will you come out to Herne?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Herne?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Will you climb onto the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. We survey the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS home survey. It complements one rather than replacing it.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll explain what’s needed.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys run seven days a week. To arrange a date, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Checking the roof from the ground
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Herne
Herne is within about 2 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. 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.
Landlords with a home close to Herne Bay station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Herne is about 1 mile south of Herne Bay, in Kent. If you are in Herne, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our Kent coverage includes Herne and the places around it.
All of CT6 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. You’ll find streets like St Martin's View, Ridley Close and Herne Street. Other places close to Herne include Hunters Forstal (1 mile north-east), Eddington (1 mile north-west), Herne Common (1 mile south-west), Bullockstone (1 mile west) and Broomfield (1 mile north-east). Further out, we also cover Canterbury (5 miles south-west), Margate (11 miles east), Ramsgate (12 miles east), Broadstairs (13 miles east), Whitstable (4 miles west) and Deal (15 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Herne
We work in homes and buildings around Curtis Wood and Herne Bay High School, among other places. Herne’s nearest station is Herne Bay station, roughly 1.2 miles north-west. Nearby you will also find Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital (3.7 miles west) and Tankerton Castle (4.4 miles west). Not far away are West Blean and Thornden Woods.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings close the gaps at chimneys, walls and abutments. We check whether they’ve lifted, split or been replaced with mortar or bitumen.
Clay and concrete tiles
Tiled roofs often last half a century or longer. Cracked, slipped or missing tiles are noted, along with odd replacement tiles that hint at earlier leaks.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Herne
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that isn’t obvious at first. Water spilling over a gutter soaks brickwork and can rot fascias and rafter ends. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the house. They’re part of what we check.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
Take an older house close to Church of St Martin: the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
What to check before booking
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Which limits apply to the survey