Medway · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Lower Upnor, Medway
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Lower Upnor. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
Different roofs, different checks
Clay and concrete tiles
Older homes in the South East often have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles on some. Where pegs have rotted, tiles can slip, so we look for gaps along the courses.
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 check how the covering is wearing.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Lower Upnor
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. Our survey picks it out, with photos so you can see it for yourself. Each finding is explained in plain words, so it’s clear what it means for your purchase. We’re often asked to look into gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and slates or tiles that have slipped or gone, on gutters and downpipes, clay and concrete tiles and natural slate.
For a small place like Lower Upnor, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed ahead of time. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book, so the visit can be planned around them. Whether you’re buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Visits can be booked on any day of the week.
You receive the findings by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Location
- Lower Upnor (ME2)
- Region
- Medway
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Lower Upnor
More services for Lower Upnor
Tips that help
You do not need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Let us know your exchange date when you book
- Check we’ll be able to get into the loft space
- Share the report with your solicitor
It is worth sharing the report with your solicitor so they can raise enquiries with the seller’s side. It can prompt questions about past roof work and any paperwork for it, particularly where we’ve found patch repairs.
Keep the loft ventilated. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air can’t flow.
How it works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a hamlet or village like Lower Upnor, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- We check the roof from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
How to prepare
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Arrange a survey
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Lower Upnor, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us price the survey accurately.
Read more
What a survey costs
We confirm the exact price before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The roof’s overall size
Every price we give includes VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for your roof before you book.
Getting in touch
A few details help us point you to the right survey and price. When you contact us, let us know:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- What kind of property and roof it is
- The address and postcode of the property
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you are ready.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Lower Upnor
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Lower Upnor
Lower Upnor lies within about 2 miles of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, and loose ridges, slates and tiles are the first to lift in a gale. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new.
If you own a rental within reach of Strood station, it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. Take an older house close to St Philip & St James: a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming. With Restoration House about 2 miles south-west, the area around Lower Upnor has a long history. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Lower Upnor is about 2 miles north-east of Rochester, in Medway. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Lower Upnor for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Lower Upnor is one of the places in Medway where we work for pre-purchase roof surveys. Maidstone is in our area too.
Surveys in ME2 are booked the same way as anywhere else. You’ll find streets like Galleon Way, Cutter Close and Schooner Walk, all of which we cover. Other places close to Lower Upnor include Upper Upnor (1 mile south-west), Chattenden (1 mile north), Wainscott (1 mile west), Hoo St Werburgh (2 miles north-east) and Cooling Street (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns like Gillingham (3 miles south-east), Chatham (4 miles south), Rainham (5 miles south-east), Strood (3 miles south-west), Luton (3 miles south) and Park Wood (5 miles south-east).
Near you in Lower Upnor
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Former Ordnance Store At Chatham Gun Wharf, The Hundred of Hoo Academy and Waterfront University Technical College, among other places. Nearby too are Lower Lines Park (1.3 miles south-east) and The Ship pub (less than half a mile east). The closest station to Lower Upnor is Strood station, about 1.6 miles south-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Upnor Castle (less than half a mile south) and Pentagon Shopping Centre (1.9 miles south). The countryside around Lower Upnor includes Rede Common and Gad's Hill.
Questions from Lower Upnor
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Lower Upnor?
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.
How do I find out if my home in Lower Upnor is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You might ask for work to be done, ask questions or ask for a change to the price. What the seller agrees to is their decision.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Lower Upnor?
It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. Give us the address and a few details about the roof. Surveys run seven days a week.
When will the report arrive?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed with photos included.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and our survey gives you that closer look. It isn’t a replacement for a RICS survey.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Where it’s safe, yes. We inspect from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.