Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Ivychurch
Need a pre-purchase roof survey in Ivychurch? We can help, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
Practical tips
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Share the report with your solicitor
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Take photos so you can show whoever looks at it.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Ivychurch: what you get
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, and the roof is only one part of it. Our survey isn’t a RICS survey, and it does not replace one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. You can have both if you want the fullest picture. Common reasons to book are ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, on natural slate, lead flashings and valleys and clay and concrete tiles.
Being in a small place like Ivychurch makes no difference to the inspection itself: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed in advance. If there are outbuildings with roofs you want checked, mention them when booking. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Location
- Ivychurch (TN29)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- A structural engineer’s report
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Natural slate
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
How it works
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen. Most surveys take an hour or two for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Somewhere like Ivychurch needs a little journey planning: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- 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.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- 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 we arrive
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Getting a price
If you are buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email when you’re ready.
Advice
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Ivychurch
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. It is a frequent finding on older houses.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
If you own a rental within reach of Appledore (Kent) station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- What happens after the report arrives
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
Common questions in Ivychurch
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Ivychurch?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Is Ivychurch within the area you cover?
Yes. Ivychurch is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
How soon is the report ready?
It depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Let us know your timetable as you book.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. You need the report before you exchange, while you can still ask questions and negotiate.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Where possible, yes. We look in the roof space where there’s safe access, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Where it’s safe, yes. Much of the inspection is done from ground level, from windows and from the loft space. On Premium, a drone is used where applicable.
Buying a home or a new roof in Ivychurch
The coast is about 5 miles or less from Ivychurch, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Corroded clips and nails and lifted ridge pieces are typical of exposed roofs near the sea. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
If you live in an older home near Church of St George, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Ivychurch is about 9 miles south of Ashford, in Kent. In Ivychurch, as across Kent, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our Kent coverage includes Ivychurch. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Every address in TN29 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you’re just outside Ivychurch, we cover Brenzett (2 miles west), Snargate (2 miles west), Ruckinge (4 miles north), Hamstreet (4 miles north) and Kenardington (5 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Ashford (9 miles north), Folkestone (13 miles east), Hythe (9 miles north-east), Hawkinge (14 miles north-east), Tenterden (9 miles north-west) and Cheriton (12 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Ivychurch
We work in homes and buildings around The Bell Inn and the streets around them. Ivychurch’s nearest station is Appledore (Kent) station, about 3.4 miles north-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Brenzett Aeronautical Museum (1.2 miles west) and Romney 'castle' (1.5 miles south). The countryside around Ivychurch includes Burnthouse Pen.
Why act early in Ivychurch
Small roof defects let water in slowly. By the time a stain shows, timber or plaster may already be damp. Finding the cause at the survey stage means you know about it from day one. Outbuildings and barns around Ivychurch are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you’d like to know.
Why us?
- Clear package prices, including VAT
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- An independent look at the roof
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
What else we do in Ivychurch
DIY checks: what’s safe
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. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.