Kent · London and the South East
Seal Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Seal, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Seal
Slates and tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay that hold them. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, yet the nails holding it rust and let slates slide. It’s a frequent finding on older houses and easy to miss from ground level.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
Landlords with a home close to Bat & Ball station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- What insurance they carry
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- What happens after the report arrives
Pre-purchase roof survey in Seal
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 so you can see it for yourself. Each finding is explained in plain words, so you know what it means for the house you’re buying. If you’ve noticed a ridge or slope that dips and cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing, we can find out what’s behind it, on clay and concrete tiles, chimney stacks and flat-roofed extensions and dormers alike.
Somewhere as small as Seal, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings often sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you are buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Seal (TN15)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
More services for Seal
Seal homes and their roofs
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. The wider area around Seal has a long history of building, with Knole House about 1.8 miles south. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Take an older house close to Church of St Peter and St Paul: a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Seal is about 2 miles north-east of Sevenoaks, in Kent. We cover Seal and the rest of Kent. Across Kent, we cover Seal and the places around it. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in TN15 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on High Street, Church Road and Jubilee Rise or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Seal: Greatness (1 mile west), Godden Green (1 mile south), Styants Bottom (2 miles east), Stone Street (2 miles south-east) and Bitchet Green (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles east), Dartford (11 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (11 miles south), Gravesend (12 miles north-east), Tonbridge (7 miles south) and Northfleet (11 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Seal
Typical jobs here are in homes near Wildernesse School, Kemsing Down and The Five Bells Public House. The closest station to Seal is Bat & Ball station, roughly 1.1 miles west. Other landmarks nearby include Sevenoaks Hospital (1.1 miles west) and Sevenoaks Museum (1.7 miles south-west). Open spaces near Seal include Dryhill Nature Reserve.
Questions from Seal
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Seal?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover Seal?
Yes, Seal is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and the South East. You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details.
How do I book a survey in Seal?
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what you’d like to know. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Mention it when you contact us and we will explain what’s needed.
How experienced are you?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
Allow about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. We’ll confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drones can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
The survey, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes about one to two hours for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. Older roofs in small places like Seal can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- We agree a visit, including weekends if that helps.
- 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.
Before the survey
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Let us know about parking near the property
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Getting a price
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
Practical tips
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
Once the home is yours, the report becomes a maintenance list. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and keep the photographs to compare against later. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months.
After strong winds, look at the roof from the ground. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
When you need someone else
Before booking, it’s worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Anything beyond the roof, which a full home survey covers
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
Roof by roof
Flat roofs
Repeated coatings on a flat roof can mask what’s underneath. We say when the covering would need opening up to know more.
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’s in.