Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Northbourne
We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Northbourne and the rest of Kent. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
Useful tips for Northbourne property owners
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Let us know your exchange date as you book
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
If you want quotes for the work, roofers can work from the report. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Chimneys and flashings need watching. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
About our pre-purchase roof survey in Northbourne
Book after your offer is accepted and before exchange. That is when the findings are most useful, while you are not yet committed. We survey on any day of the week, which helps when the chain is moving fast. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. We survey lead flashings and valleys, natural slate and clay and concrete tiles, and common reasons people get in touch are a ridge or slope that dips and flashings that have lifted or split.
In a village or hamlet like Northbourne, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
After the visit, you get a report with photographs, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- Northbourne (CT14)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from the ground
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
When to book a survey in Northbourne
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that do not match can point to a problem that keeps coming back. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
Problems we come across often include:
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
Walmer Castle, about 3 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Northbourne. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Before you book anyone
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Their report turnaround times
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
Surveys for landlords and agents in Northbourne
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roofs
Ponding, blistering, splits and worn upstands are the usual warning signs. We look at outlets too, since a blocked one leaves water sitting on the roof.
Natural slate
Good slate is one of the longest-lasting roof coverings, but the nails holding it corrode long before that. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’.
How the survey works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. Most visits take about 1–2 hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. Around Northbourne, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed ahead of time.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from ground level and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
Arrange a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Related advice
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Northbourne
Is my home in Northbourne listed or in a conservation area?
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, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Northbourne, take more of a battering?
It can do. Northbourne is within about 4 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Do you work in Northbourne?
Yes. We survey roofs in Northbourne and the rest of Kent. To book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Can I take the findings back to the seller?
Yes, you can. You will have photos and a written description of each defect, which you can share with the seller or agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where possible, yes. We look in the loft space where there’s safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is typically arranged through the agent or seller.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll explain what’s needed.
How many surveys have you done?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Buying a home or a new roof in Northbourne
Northbourne lies within about 4 miles of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Augustine, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them. Landlords with a home close to Walmer station may find that the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Northbourne is about 2 miles west of Deal, in Kent. Northbourne is part of the area we cover as part of our work across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across Kent, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Canterbury page.
We cover every part of the CT14 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Local streets include Deal Road, Coulson Grove and Mill Lane. If you are just outside Northbourne, we cover Marley (1 mile north), Great Mongeham (1 mile south-east), Finglesham (1 mile north), Sholden Meadows (1 mile east) and Sholden (1 mile east). We also work in nearby towns such as Canterbury (12 miles west), Margate (11 miles north), Dover (6 miles south), Folkestone (12 miles south-west), Ramsgate (9 miles north) and Broadstairs (11 miles north).
Around Northbourne
Around Northbourne, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Castle Community College, Hare & Hounds pub and Betteshanger Park and the streets around them. Northbourne’s nearest station is Walmer station, about 2.2 miles south-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Deal Castle (2.8 miles east) and Kent Museum of the Moving Image (2.7 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Monk's Wall nature reserve.