Greater London · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in North Cray
Need a pre-purchase roof survey in North Cray? We can help, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
Pre-purchase roof survey in North Cray: what you get
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. 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. If you’ve noticed worn or lifted lead flashings and standing water on a flat extension roof, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on chimney stacks, natural slate and gutters and downpipes alike.
London’s housing runs from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to interwar semis, post-war estates and new blocks of flats, so a property in North Cray might be any of these. Whether the roof is old or newly laid, the problem areas depend on how and when the building went up. Slate roofs, butterfly valleys, parapet gutters and flat-roofed rear additions each have their own weak points.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- North Cray (DA14)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
We do not take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. The survey typically takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, and longer for a large or complex roof. In a London area like North Cray, the main things to sort out are parking and access: let us know about parking, the floor the property is on, any shared entrance and loft access. We then look at what can be seen safely from ground level, windows, the loft and, where it’s safe, the roof itself.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
Booking a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
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What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in North Cray
If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Further from the centre, London’s housing takes in interwar semis with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles as well as slate-roofed terraces. Bay roofs, hip ridges and dormers from later loft conversions are the details that set these houses apart. Each material has its own typical faults, which is what a buyer or the owner of a new roof needs to know about.
Historic houses such as Hall Place and Gardens, about 1.4 miles north-east, show how far back building around North Cray goes. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area. If you let a flat or house near Albany Park station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
North Cray is about 2 miles east of Sidcup, in Greater London. We survey roofs in North Cray and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and the South East. Across Greater London, we cover North Cray and the places around it. You can also see our page for London.
We survey roofs across the DA14 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Water Lane, North Cray Road and Leafield Lane and the roads around them. We also cover the places around North Cray: Bexley (1 mile north), Coldblow (1 mile north-east), Ruxley (1 mile south), Blendon (1 mile north-west) and Joyden's Wood (1 mile east). Further out, we also cover London (11 miles north-west), City of Westminster (14 miles north-west), Marylebone (14 miles north-west), Kensington (15 miles west), St Pancras (13 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (11 miles north-west).
Near you in North Cray
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Foots Cray Meadows, Cleeve Park School and The White Cross pub and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Albany Park station, roughly 0.6 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Broadway Shopping Centre (1.7 miles north) and Bexley Hospital (1.8 miles north). Not far away are Wansunt Pit and Summer Hill.
Useful tips for North Cray property owners
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
We email the report to you, with photos of each finding. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Findings are set out in plain English, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
Common questions in North Cray
Is drone flying allowed in North Cray?
Typically it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Across London there are restriction zones around Heathrow, London City and London Heliport, plus restricted areas over Hyde Park, the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Each address is checked against all of them before the drone goes up. Every flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. A small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour.
How do I find out if my home in North Cray is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
On site, it usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Will you climb onto the roof?
When conditions and the roof make it safe, yes. Many roofs can be seen well from windows, vantage points and the loft, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where applicable.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
It’s your choice, but the two do different jobs. A RICS home survey covers the whole building, and ours concentrates on the roof alone. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the freeholder or managing agent. Let us know about it when booking and we will plan the survey around it.
Also near North Cray
What else we do in North Cray
When to book a survey in North Cray
Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999. Cement roof sheets, soffits and flue pipes are typical places to find it. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys, but we flag materials that might so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Flashings that have lifted or split
North Cray is in London, so parking needs planning: tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space as you book.
Before booking anyone
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- What experience they bring
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Whether the price includes VAT
Roof by roof
Natural slate
Many older homes in London and the South East have slate roofs. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates, and for clips or tingles that show past repairs.
Gutters and parapets
The rainwater system keeps water off the walls. Leaking joints, sagging lengths and blockages are all noted, along with fascias and soffits.
What a survey costs
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- House, block, shop or office
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
What we need to know
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
We confirm the price for the job before you book, so you know where you stand. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.