Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Marley, Kent
Need a pre-purchase roof survey in Marley? We can help, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Old water stains in the loft space
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Marley
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Most of it cannot be seen from the street. We look closely and record what we see, 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 survey natural slate, lead flashings and valleys and gutters and downpipes, and the problems we are asked to look at most are lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof.
Somewhere as small as Marley, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks, 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.
If any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Marley (CT14)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Buying a home or a new roof in Marley
Marley lies within about 3 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Walmer Castle, about 3.5 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Marley. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you let a flat or house near Sandwich station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Marley is about 3 miles north-west of Deal, in Kent. Surveys in Marley work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful look at whatever is safely visible, photographs and a clear written report. Marley is one of the places in Kent we cover. Canterbury is in our area too.
All of CT14 is within our area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Broad Lane and Marley Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. If you are just outside Marley, we cover Finglesham (1 mile north-east), Hacklinge (1 mile north-east), Northbourne (1 mile south), Ham (1 mile north-west) and Sholden Meadows (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (12 miles west), Margate (10 miles north), Dover (7 miles south), Folkestone (13 miles south-west), Ramsgate (8 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (10 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Marley
In Marley, that means homes and buildings near Ham Fen, Sandwich Technology School and The Crown Inn. For rail, the closest station is Sandwich station, roughly 2.5 miles north of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Sandown Castle (2.7 miles east) and Kent Museum of the Moving Image (2.6 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Monk's Wall nature reserve.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Marley
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Marley. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
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.
Nearby places to Marley
More services for Marley
Useful tips for Marley property owners
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Let us know your exchange date when booking
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, and the Premium Survey includes an in-person consultation. Whichever package you choose, you can ask us what a finding means.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, particularly after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
The survey, step by step
You do not need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll take it from there. A typical survey takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. Somewhere as small as Marley, access is frequently the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- 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.
How to prepare
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Booking a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window. To get started, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
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Questions from Marley
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Marley?
It can do. Within about 3 miles of the sea, as Marley is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
How do I find out if my home in Marley is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
It usually takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Marley?
The quickest way is to phone 07833 053749 or email us. Tell us the address and a little about the roof. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Are you insured?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Where it is safe, yes. We inspect from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
It is useful to know what a survey will not do before you book:
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Marley
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Marley
Many roofs have had quick fixes over the years. Bitumen over flashings, mortar fillets in place of lead and odd replacement tiles can point to a problem that keeps coming back. We note what we see so you can ask about it.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
If you live in an older home near Church of St Augustine, ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Questions to ask before booking
- What insurance they carry
- What follow-up you get after the report
- How soon the report will arrive
- Will the report include photos?
How the survey changes by roof type
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails that fix it frequently give out first. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’.
Lead flashings and valleys
Many leaks start at a flashing, so we check each one closely. Any that need attention are photographed and explained.