Kent · London and the South East
Marshborough Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Marshborough, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Marshborough
A full home survey looks at the whole property, so the roof is one item among many. We don’t offer a RICS home survey, and ours is not a substitute for one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. The two sit side by side if you want the fullest picture. If you’ve noticed a ridge or slope that dips and slipped or missing slates and tiles, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Older buildings in small places like Marshborough may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials a new roof may use, so check with the council and Historic England’s list. Whether you are buying or signing off new roofing, it is worth knowing where you stand. There are about 500,000 listed buildings and around 10,000 conservation areas in England.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly.
- Place
- Marshborough (CT13)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we cannot see
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Asbestos testing of any kind
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roofs
Flat roofs on extensions, dormers and garages are easy to forget about. Felt roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, rubber longer and GRP up to about 30. We check how the covering is wearing.
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. Where we can see them safely, we check the linings and outlets.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Marshborough: local notes
Marshborough lies within about 4 miles of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. With Goodnestone Park about 3.7 miles south-west, Marshborough sits in an area with a long building history. 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.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary the Virgin are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Marshborough is about 5 miles north-west of Deal, in Kent. In Marshborough, as across Kent, every roof gets the same careful survey. Marshborough is one of the towns and villages in Kent we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in CT13 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Woodnesborough (1 mile south-east), East Street (1 mile north), Statenborough (1 mile south-east), Felderland (2 miles south-east) and Sandwich (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Canterbury (10 miles west), Margate (8 miles north-east), Dover (9 miles south), Folkestone (14 miles south-west), Ramsgate (7 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (8 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Marshborough
We work in homes and buildings around Ham Fen. The closest station to Marshborough is Sandwich station, roughly 1.7 miles east. Well-known places in the area include White Mill (1.3 miles north-east) and Sandown Castle (4.8 miles south-east). For a walk, there is Monk's Wall nature reserve.
What we are asked to look at in Marshborough
Rear extensions, dormers and garages frequently have flat roofs. A felt roof often lasts around 15 to 20 years, and ponding, blisters and splits are common signs of age. A buyer can easily miss them, especially when they’re only visible from an upper floor.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Old water stains in the loft space
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
If you own a rental within reach of Sandwich station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
What to check before booking
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Will the report include photos?
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Which limits apply to the survey
What a survey costs
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- House, block, shop or office
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the roof. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
Helping us price your survey
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- The address and postcode of the property
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us some details about the property and we will explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Questions from Marshborough
Is Marshborough within the area you cover?
Yes, Marshborough is covered. We work right across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Marshborough?
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.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and views from upper windows help too. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. You will have photos and a written description of each defect, which you can share with the seller or agent. We can’t promise how the seller will respond.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Where it’s safe, yes. Much of the inspection is done from the ground, from windows and from the roof space. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where applicable.
How it works
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Somewhere like Marshborough needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Booking a survey
If you’re buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you are ready.
Advice
Also near Marshborough
Also in Marshborough
What happens if roof problems are left?
When a chain is moving fast, a roof survey can feel like one more delay. We visit seven days a week, and a Premium report comes the same day, which helps it fit around your exchange date. Matching old materials, like handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Marshborough
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Every finding written up with photos
- Prices that include VAT
Read what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.