Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Highstead, Kent
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Highstead. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
How the survey works
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take between one and two hours for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. In a small place like Highstead, access is typically the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- 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.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
Booking a survey
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before you book.
Related advice
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Highstead
Buying a flat brings its own roof questions. The lease decides who looks after the roof, and that’s often not the individual flat owner, with costs often passed on through the service charge. We inspect what access allows us to see safely, and the report helps you ask your solicitor or the managing agent the right questions. Where the building has a flat roof, it’s checked as far as access allows. If you’ve noticed loose pots and cracked flaunching and flashings that have lifted or split, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on chimney stacks, the roof space and flat-roofed extensions and dormers alike.
Older buildings in small places like Highstead may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it’s worth knowing which applies. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, sent by email. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Highstead (CT3, CT6)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Highstead
Also in Highstead
Landlords, agents and block managers in Highstead
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps when budgeting.
Roof by roof
Natural slate
On a slate roof, the underlay may be old bitumen felt, or there may be none at all on very old roofs. From inside the roof space, we report what we can see of it.
Gutters and parapets
Hidden gutters behind parapets send water indoors when they block. We look at their linings and outlets from wherever is safe.
Before and after the survey
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
Your report arrives by email, with photographs of what we found. 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, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Every so frequently, check the loft with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
What a pre-purchase roof survey doesn’t cover
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
- A structural engineer’s report
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
FAQs for Highstead
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Highstead?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Is my home in Highstead listed or in a conservation area?
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.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That gives you time to use the findings.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. It is a dedicated roof survey, and you get a written report with photos. It does not cover the rest of the property, which a RICS survey does.
When will the report arrive?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email with photos included.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
How long does the survey visit take?
The visit usually takes between one and two hours at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. We will give you an idea of timing when booking.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Highstead
Flat roofs turn up on extensions, dormers, porches and garages. Felt flat roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. A buyer can easily miss them, particularly when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
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.
Before you book anyone
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
Local roofs and buyers in Highstead
The coast is about 2 miles or less from Highstead, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, so exposed details get a careful look whether you’re buying or signing off new work. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Mary the Virgin, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Highstead is about 2 miles south-east of Herne Bay, in Kent. We visit Highstead as part of our work across Kent, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across Kent, large and small. Our Canterbury page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of CT3 and CT6 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. We also cover Hawthorn (1 mile north), Boyden Gate (1 mile south-east), Millbank (1 mile south-west), Old Tree (1 mile south) and Hillborough (1 mile north). We also work in nearby towns such as Canterbury (7 miles south-west), Margate (9 miles east), Ramsgate (10 miles east), Broadstairs (11 miles east), Whitstable (6 miles west) and Deal (13 miles south-east).
Around Highstead
We work in homes and buildings around Bishopstone Cliffs and Hog & Donkey pub and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Herne Bay station, about 2.7 miles west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital (5.6 miles west). Open spaces near Highstead include West Blean and Thornden Woods.