Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Oare, Kent
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Oare, with photos and a clear written report.
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
FAQs for Oare
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Oare?
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.
Do you cover smaller places like Oare?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Are you insured?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
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.
When will the report arrive?
That depends on which survey you choose: within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Let us know your exchange date and we will help you choose.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Oare: what you get
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Pick the one that fits the property. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. If you’re worried about cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and blocked or leaking gutters, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on lead flashings and valleys, natural slate and chimney stacks alike.
In a village or hamlet like Oare, 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. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
After the visit, you get a written report with photographs, sent by email. It explains the condition of the roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Oare (ME13)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What else we do in Oare
What we can’t see
A survey is a careful look at the roof, but it can’t do everything. The main limits are:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we will suggest the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. You’re welcome to ask questions while we are there. Cottages and farmhouses around Oare often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- 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.
Before the survey
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
How to book
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Oare, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us give you an accurate price.
Advice
Roof by roof
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If yours does, we check that gutter and where it drains.
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We say when the covering would need opening up to know more.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Why get it checked now?
After exchange, any roof defect is yours to deal with. Before it, you still have choices. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but with far less room to act on them. In a place like Oare, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. You will know the price for the job before booking.
What you get with us
- PI and public liability insurance
- Packages from £150, including VAT
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Read how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Oare
Oare is within about 2 miles of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in high wind or heavy rain. Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Whether you are buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
If you own a rental within reach of Faversham station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one. The streets around a church such as Church of St Peter are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Oare is about 1 mile north of Faversham, in Kent. We survey roofs in Oare across London and South East England. Our Kent coverage includes Oare. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
We cover every part of the ME13 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. That includes homes and businesses on The Street, Church Road and Russell Place and the roads around them. We also cover Davington (1 mile south), The Brents (1 mile south-east), Uplees (1 mile north-west), Faversham (1 mile south) and Four Oaks (1 mile south-west). We also work in nearby towns like Ashford (13 miles south), Canterbury (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (6 miles west), Whitstable (7 miles east), Herne Bay (11 miles east) and Minster (7 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Oare
In Oare, that means homes and buildings near Oare Meadow, Three Mariners Inn and Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School. Oare’s nearest station is Faversham station, roughly 1.4 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include Newnham Castle (4.5 miles south-west).
Common roof problems in Oare
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. Our report records them so you can ask the seller what was done and when.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
Belmont House and Gardens lies about 4.3 miles south, so building around Oare goes back a long way. If you’re buying an older home nearby, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
Questions to ask before booking
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price