Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Sarre, Kent
Wondering about the roof at a property in Sarre? We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys in Sarre and across Kent.
- Blocked or leaking gutters
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
Pre-purchase roof survey in Sarre
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Corroded nails let slates slide, valley linings wear thin and chimney mortar erodes. Most of it can’t be seen from the street. Our survey picks it out, with photos that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you’re buying. We survey chimney stacks, clay and concrete tiles and lead flashings and valleys, and people most often book us about cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and blocked or leaking gutters.
Older buildings in small places like Sarre may be listed or in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it’s worth knowing which applies, as well as what condition the roof is in. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Location
- Sarre (CT7)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
Your report arrives by email, with photographs of what we found. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. Each defect is explained in plain words, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Avoid packing insulation into the eaves so tightly that air can’t flow.
Questions from Sarre
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Sarre?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch, and Sarre is within about 3 miles of the coast.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Sarre?
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.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. It is a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, with a written report and photos. It is not a RICS survey and doesn’t cover the rest of the house.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, like cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
What’s the best way to book?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what you want to find out. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where possible, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is typically arranged through the agent or seller.
At what stage of buying should I get the roof surveyed?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
When to book a survey in Sarre
Patch repairs are common on roofs of every age. Bitumen painted over a flashing, mortar where lead should be, or a few tiles that don’t 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.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Blocked or leaking gutters
The streets around a church like Church of Saint Nicholas are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
When you need someone else
We only report what can be seen safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Sarre
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- The roof space
Also in Sarre
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings and valleys
Many older houses have lead in their valleys and hidden gutters. Splits in a lead valley send water inside, and missing lead is not unknown, as it is a target for thieves.
Clay and concrete tiles
Many post-war houses have concrete interlocking tiles. They’re heavy and hard-wearing, but they weather and can crack, and low-pitched roofs need their laps to be right.
What happens on the day
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll take it from there. A typical survey takes about one to two hours at most homes, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. In a hamlet or village like Sarre, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- 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.
How to prepare
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Getting a price
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
What affects the price in Sarre
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. You’ll know the figure before booking.
What to tell us when you get in touch
Before you get in touch, it is useful to have:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- What made you get in touch
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The kind of building and roof involved
Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Sarre
The coast is about 3 miles or less from Sarre, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, and loose ridges, slates and tiles are the first to lift in a gale, so exposed details get a proper look whether you’re buying or signing off new work. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If you let a flat or house near Minster station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. With Quex Park about 4.1 miles north-east, the area around Sarre has a long history. 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.
Sarre is about 5 miles south-east of Herne Bay, in Kent. We visit Sarre as part of our work across Kent. Our area takes in places right across Kent. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
All of CT7 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Island Road, Old Road and Chantry Park or anywhere close by, we can help. If you are just outside Sarre, we cover St Nicholas at Wade (1 mile north-east), West Stourmouth (1 mile south), East Stourmouth (2 miles south), Monkton (2 miles east) and Upstreet (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (8 miles south-west), Margate (7 miles north-east), Dover (14 miles south), Ramsgate (7 miles east), Broadstairs (8 miles east) and Whitstable (9 miles west).
Landmarks near Sarre
We work in homes and buildings around Grove Ferry Picnic Area and Kings Head Inn and the streets around them. Sarre’s nearest station is Minster station, about 3.5 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Powell-Cotton Museum (3.8 miles north-east).