Kent · London and the South East
Margate Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Margate and the rest of Kent. Surveys run on any day of the week.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Blocked or leaking gutters
What we do, step by step
There is not much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll take it from there. The survey itself takes between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. A survey in Margate needs access inside and out, including the loft hatch and any rooms with damp. If there is a side gate or a rear garden, let us know how to reach it. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you’re buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- 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.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
Preparing for the visit
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Booking a survey
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 call 07833 053749 or send us an email when you are ready.
Read more
Pre-purchase roof survey in Margate
Buyers in Margate and right across London and the South East use our pre-purchase roof survey. From terraced and semi-detached homes to detached houses and flats, we follow the same careful process. We tell you what’s sound, what needs attention and how urgent it is. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and have 20+ years’ experience. To book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We survey lead flashings and valleys, the roof space and gutters and downpipes, and people most often book us about roof slopes that look uneven or sagging and blistered or split felt on a flat roof.
Margate is the kind of town where older houses and newer estates sit side by side. Older roofs are often slate or clay tile, and many later houses have concrete interlocking tiles. For a purchase or a new roof in Margate, the type of roof decides where the checks focus. Many older roofs also have felt underlay or none at all, which matters as much as the tiles.
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. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Margate (CT9, CT7, CT8, CT10)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Let us know your timetable
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. The photos show the defects and where they are, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Keep the loft ventilated. Condensation in a roof space can look like a leak and can damage timbers over time. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.
What a survey costs
To price your survey, we check:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The size of the roof
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Booking your survey
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Margate
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Margate. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
More services for Margate
Margate: your questions answered
Is Margate in the area you cover?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How do I find out if my home in Margate is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
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 photographs.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys run seven days a week. To find a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain doesn’t typically stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Strong wind or a downpour can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so if conditions are not right we will arrange another day with you.
Why get it checked now?
It’s tempting to skip the roof to keep a sale moving. Weekend visits are available as well as weekdays, and the Premium Survey report arrives the same day, which helps it fit around your exchange date. A defect spotted early can be planned and budgeted for, while one found after water comes through typically has to be dealt with in a hurry.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You will know the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Margate
- Over 20 years’ experience
- An independent look at the roof
- Clear package prices, with VAT included
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
See what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Buying a home or a new roof in Margate
Margate lies within about 1 mile of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Corroded clips and nails and lifted ridge pieces are typical of exposed roofs near the sea, so exposed details get a close look whether you are buying or signing off new work. Quex Park, about 2.9 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Margate. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Take an older house close to Parish Church of St John the Baptist: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges. Landlords with a home close to Margate station may find that a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Margate is in Kent. Whether the building in Margate is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Our Kent coverage includes Margate. Our Canterbury page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of the CT9, CT7, CT8 and CT10 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. You will find streets like Yoakley Square, Church Road and High Street. Margate sits on or near the A28 and A254, so getting to you is simple. We also cover the places around Margate: Westwood (1 mile south), Westbrook (1 mile west), Garlinge (1 mile west), Flete (1 mile south-west) and Haine (2 miles south). Further out, we also cover Canterbury (15 miles south-west), Ramsgate (3 miles south), Whitstable (15 miles west), Deal (11 miles south), Herne Bay (11 miles west) and Walmer (12 miles south). As one of the bigger places in Kent, Margate has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
Near you in Margate
Around Margate, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Hartsdown Academy and Secret Spices pub and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Margate station, roughly 0.6 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Westwood Cross (1.6 miles south) and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital (under half a mile south-east). Open spaces near Margate include Sandwich and Pegwell Bay.
What this survey cannot tell you
Every survey has limits, and it’s better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles