Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Saltwood
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Saltwood, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Old water stains in the loft space
Pre-purchase roof survey in Saltwood: what you get
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, with the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check. Premium goes further, with thermal imaging, a drone where it applies and a same-day report. Pick the one that fits the property. All three include a written report with photographs and recommendations. We survey chimney stacks, the roof space and flat-roofed extensions and dormers, and people most often book us about damp timbers or stains in the loft and sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes.
In a village or hamlet like Saltwood, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Place
- Saltwood (CT21)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips that help
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Let us know your timetable
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Request records of any re-roofing
The report gives any roofer you ask to quote a clear brief. They’ll see exactly what we found, and where, so each quote covers the same ground.
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. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
Saltwood homes and their roofs
Saltwood lies within about 1 mile of the sea, and wind near 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 high wind or heavy rain. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
Westenhanger Castle lies about 2.2 miles north-west, so building around Saltwood goes back a long way. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy. Take an older house close to Church of St Peter and St Paul: ask the seller about past roof repairs, because older roofs often have patched valleys, replaced slates and reset ridges.
Saltwood is about 1 mile north of Hythe, in Kent. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Saltwood and the surrounding area. Our Kent coverage includes Saltwood and the places around it. Canterbury is in our area too.
We survey roofs across CT21 for pre-purchase roof surveys. Whether your property is on Old Saltwood Lane, The Green and Bartholomew Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Saltwood: Hythe (1 mile south), Sandling (1 mile north-west), Pedlinge (1 mile west), Palmarsh (2 miles south-west) and Newingreen (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Ashford (10 miles north-west), Canterbury (14 miles north), Dover (10 miles north-east), Folkestone (4 miles east), Tower Hamlets (10 miles east) and Hawkinge (4 miles north-east).
What’s near Saltwood
Typical jobs here are in homes near Brockhill Park Performing Arts College, Brockhill Country Park and Red Lion Public House. Saltwood’s nearest station is Sandling station, roughly 0.9 miles north-west. Nearby you will also find Royal Victoria Hospital (4.1 miles east) and Hythe Museum (0.8 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Tolsford Hill.
Common questions in Saltwood
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Saltwood?
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.
Is Saltwood within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Where possible, yes. We look in the loft space where there’s safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is normally arranged through the agent or seller.
How soon is the report ready?
That depends on which survey you choose: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Let us know your exchange date and we’ll help you choose.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a 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. Our survey complements a RICS survey and doesn’t replace one.
What this survey cannot tell you
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- Defects hidden under coverings or inside walls without opening up
If you’re 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 check
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
What affects the price in Saltwood
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The size of the roof
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Getting in touch
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It is useful to include:
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Anything about access we should know
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Saltwood. For a price for a let property or a block, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Saltwood?
Most viewings never get near the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates, and a quick glance from the street misses a lot. Fresh decoration can also cover the marks an old leak left behind, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
People typically book a survey after spotting one of these:
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
If you own a rental within reach of Sandling station, a survey before purchase, or before signing off a new roof, saves surprises once a tenant moves in.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- What exactly goes into their report
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
Towns and villages near Saltwood
Other services in Saltwood
How it works
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. Most visits take about 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Around Saltwood, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller, including the loft.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a written report with photographs and recommendations before you exchange.
How to prepare
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Keep pets in another room
Book a survey
We survey roofs seven days a week. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.