Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Selsted
We take a careful look at the roof at your property in Selsted, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Many leaks start at a flashing, so we check each one closely. Any that need attention are photographed and explained.
Clay and concrete tiles
Older homes in the South East frequently have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles on some. Where pegs have rotted, tiles can slip, so we look for gaps along the courses.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Selsted
With a written roof report, you can go back to the seller or agent with specifics. You can ask about the roof’s history, ask for repairs before completion or rethink the price. We can’t say how a seller will respond, but you will be asking from facts rather than guesses. It can also help you decide whether the purchase is still right for you. We survey gutters and downpipes, natural slate and flat-roofed extensions and dormers, and the problems we are asked to look at most are blistered or split felt on a flat roof and chimney mortar that has eroded.
In a village or hamlet like Selsted, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Whether you’re buying or have just had a roof replaced, each material has its own checks. What’s under the coverings, from old felt to the battens and nails, matters too.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- Selsted (CT15)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Selsted
Other services in Selsted
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Selsted: local notes
Selsted lies within about 5 miles of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, and loose ridges, slates and tiles are the first to lift in a gale, which is worth knowing before you buy or pay for new work. Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. The covering on a house you are buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
Historic houses such as Acrise Place, about 2.2 miles south-west, show how far back building around Selsted goes. Buying a period property here means asking about the roof’s age and repairs, and about any listing or conservation area.
Selsted is about 5 miles north of Folkestone, in Kent. We visit Selsted as part of our work across Kent. We cover towns and villages across Kent, large and small. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Surveys in CT15 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We also cover Swingfield Minnis (1 mile south), Wootton (1 mile north), Denton (2 miles north), Lodge Lees (2 miles north) and Shelvin (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Ashford (13 miles west), Canterbury (9 miles north-west), Dover (6 miles east), Folkestone (5 miles south), Whitstable (15 miles north-west) and Deal (10 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Selsted
For rail, the closest station is Shepherds Well station, roughly 3.2 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Royal Victoria Hospital (5 miles south) and Folkestone Castle (4.2 miles south). Open spaces near Selsted include Cheriton Hill.
Selsted: your questions answered
Is the coastal weather around Selsted hard on roofs?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there’s more wind, and more salt in the air. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it usually shows, and Selsted is within about 5 miles of the coast.
How do I find out if my home in Selsted is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you need access inside the house?
Where we can, yes. From the loft space we can see staining, timbers and underlay. If we cannot get in, the report says so.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
Does your survey replace a RICS home survey?
No. It’s a roof survey by an experienced roof surveyor, and you get a written report with photos. It is not a RICS survey and doesn’t cover the rest of the house.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
When will the report arrive?
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 timetable when booking.
The survey, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, take photos as we go and record our findings for the written report. It normally 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. In a small place like Selsted, access is usually the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- 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.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
How to prepare
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
Book a survey
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Advice
Prices for pre-purchase roof surveys in Selsted
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Which survey package you book
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Helping us price your survey
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you get in touch, it’s useful to mention:
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
We confirm the price for your survey before booking, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Selsted
Blocked or leaking gutters do damage that is not obvious at first. Overflowing water soaks walls and can rot the timber behind. Hidden gutters behind parapets or in roof valleys can send water indoors. They’re part of what we look at.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- A ridge or slope that dips
If you own a rental within reach of Shepherds Well station, it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Their track record with similar roofs
- What insurance they carry
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
Checking the roof from ground level
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Why get it checked now?
Once you exchange, the roof’s problems become yours. Before then, you can still ask questions, ask for work to be done or reconsider. Finding out later gives you the same facts, but with far less room to act on them. In a place like Selsted, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both inc. VAT. You will know the exact price before booking.
Why book us in Selsted
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Surveys seven days a week
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
Read what a roof survey costs and our case studies.