Medway · London and the South East
Scarborough Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in Scarborough. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
What affects the price in Scarborough
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The shape of the roof and its details
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Booking your survey
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- What’s prompted the survey
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or email us and we will ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Scarborough
Some roofs cannot be seen well from the ground or from windows. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where it applies, and the report arrives the same day. Where a flight is not possible, because of airspace rules or the weather, we tell you and inspect from every other safe vantage point. Common reasons to book are roof slopes that look uneven or sagging and signs of past leaks inside the loft, across chimney stacks, clay and concrete tiles and the roof space.
For a small place like Scarborough, the visit is planned like any other: the journey, parking and access are simply agreed beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when booking. Whether you are buying or checking new work, the same care goes into it. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
It isn’t only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend.
- Location
- Scarborough (ME1)
- Wider area
- Medway
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Natural slate
Older slate roofs often have bitumen felt under them, and very old ones may have none. Where we can see it from the loft, we say what condition it is in.
Clay and concrete tiles
Tiled roofs often last half a century or longer. Cracked, slipped or missing tiles are noted, along with odd replacement tiles that hint at earlier leaks.
What we are asked to look at in Scarborough
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that isn’t obvious at first. Water spilling over a gutter soaks brickwork and can rot fascias and rafter ends. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. They’re part of what we check.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near St Mary's Church, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
What to check before booking
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- 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
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Scarborough
Are there drone restrictions around Scarborough?
Usually it comes down to two things: the airspace at the address and the weather. Rochester Airport is about 2 miles away, so we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before any flight. High wind or heavy rain also stops a small drone flying.
Is Scarborough within the area you cover?
Yes, Scarborough is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
It normally takes between one and two hours for a house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Report times depend on the package, from the same day for Premium to within 48 hours for Basic.
Will you need to get into the loft?
Where we can, yes. Inside, the loft shows leaks, damp timbers and the underlay. If access is not possible, we note it in the report.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys run on any day of the week. To find a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Nearby places to Scarborough
What else we do in Scarborough
When you need someone else
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Keep these in mind:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- A structural engineer’s report
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
If you are 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.
Roof types and parts we check
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Before and after the survey
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
- Ask when the roof was last worked on
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Tell us your exchange date when you book
Once the home is yours, the report becomes a maintenance list. Deal with the urgent items first, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months to see how things have changed.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, especially after autumn. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Use a gutter contractor rather than going up a ladder yourself.
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Scarborough
Scarborough is about 2 miles from Rochester Airport. If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. The wider area around Scarborough has a long history of building, with Starkey Castle about 1.7 miles north. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
If you let a flat or house near Snodland station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Scarborough is about 3 miles south-west of Chatham, in Medway. Roofs in Scarborough get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Medway. Our Medway coverage includes Scarborough and the places around it. Maidstone is in our area too.
Every address in ME1 is within our area 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 Pilgrims Way and Scarborough Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to Scarborough include Peters Village (1 mile west), Burham (1 mile south-east), Wouldham (1 mile north-west), Holborough (1 mile west) and Halling (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Gillingham (5 miles north-east), Chatham (3 miles north-east), Rochester (4 miles north), Rainham (6 miles east), Strood (4 miles north) and Luton (4 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Scarborough
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Windmill pub, Holborough Marshes and The Holmesdale School and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Snodland station, roughly 1.1 miles south-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Pentagon Shopping Centre (3.8 miles north-east) and St. Catherine's Hospital (3.4 miles north-east). Not far away are Blue Bell Hill and Burham Down.
What we do, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Around Scarborough, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know 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.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it is safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Find any records of previous roof work
Book a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or email us.