Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Knave's Ash
Pre-purchase roof surveys across Knave's Ash, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photographs.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Knave's Ash
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, inc. VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where applicable and a same-day report. Choose the level that suits the home you are buying. All three include a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations. We survey the roof space, natural slate and lead flashings and valleys, and people most often book us about worn or lifted lead flashings and damp timbers or stains in the loft.
In a village or hamlet like Knave's Ash, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Knave's Ash (CT3)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Flat roofs
Many homes have a flat roof somewhere, often over an extension. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We look for signs of age and failure.
Chimney stacks
Chimney stacks take the brunt of the weather. The pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings are all checked, as far as we can see them safely.
Practical tips
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
Your report arrives by email, with photos 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.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
Also in Knave's Ash
How the survey works
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It typically takes between one and two hours for most houses, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Older roofs in small places like Knave's Ash can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from each safe vantage point, inside and out.
- Each part of the roof is examined and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with photos and recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Preparing for the visit
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Arrange a survey
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Knave's Ash
Knave's Ash lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you let a flat or house near Herne Bay station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Knave's Ash is about 2 miles south of Herne Bay, in Kent. We visit Knave's Ash as part of our work across Kent, for homes and businesses alike. We cover towns and villages across Kent.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in CT3 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We cover properties on Hicks Forstal Road and Hoath Road. Nearby, we also carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Hoath (1 mile east), Maypole (1 mile north-east), Old Tree (1 mile north-east), Millbank (1 mile north-east) and Hicks Forstal (1 mile west). Further out, we also cover Canterbury (5 miles south-west), Margate (10 miles east), Dover (15 miles south-east), Ramsgate (11 miles east), Broadstairs (12 miles east) and Whitstable (5 miles west).
What’s near Knave's Ash
Typical jobs here are in homes near Curtis Wood and Spires Academy, among other places. The closest station to Knave's Ash is Herne Bay station, roughly 2.6 miles north-west of the centre. A little further out are St Martins Hospital (4.4 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A mortgage valuation isn’t a roof survey. It looks at whether the property is suitable security for the loan, and it will not look closely at the roof. Our survey is done for you, and the report is written for you to use. Around Knave's Ash, older homes frequently have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before you book.
Why us?
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- An independent view of the roof
- Every finding written up with photos
Take a look at our cost guide and two real surveys.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Knave's Ash?
A chimney stack stands out in the wind and rain and they’re frequently the least maintained part of a roof. Pointing crumbles, flaunching cracks and flashings lift. A stack may be shared with the neighbours, which can affect how any work is arranged.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
Take an older house close to Church of the Holy Cross: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- What happens after the report arrives
- What exactly goes into their report
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Knave's Ash
Is the coastal weather around Knave's Ash hard on roofs?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it normally shows, and Knave's Ash is within about 3 miles of the coast.
Is Knave's Ash within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes. The report sets out what we found, with photos, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. We cannot promise how the seller will respond.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll explain what’s needed.
How long will you be at the property?
Allow an hour or two on an ordinary house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
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.
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Knave's Ash
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
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. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Getting in touch
A few details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you get in touch, it’s useful to mention:
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The property’s address and postcode
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.