Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Shoreham
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Shoreham from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Damp timbers or stains in the loft
- A ridge or slope that dips
Pre-purchase roof survey in Shoreham: what you get
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, and the roof is only one part of it. Our survey is not a RICS survey, and it does not replace one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photographs of what we find and written recommendations. You can have both. We’re often asked to look into chimney mortar that has eroded and blistered or split felt on a flat roof, across lead flashings and valleys, gutters and downpipes and natural slate.
For a small place like Shoreham, the visit is planned like any other: it just means planning the journey and access beforehand. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages with roofs you’d like looked at when you book. Buyers and owners of new roofs get the same approach as anywhere. Weekday and weekend visits are both available.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Place
- Shoreham (TN14)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take about one to two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Somewhere as small as Shoreham, access is frequently the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Arrange a survey
If you are buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or send us an email when you are ready.
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DIY checks: what’s safe
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in.
Tips that help
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Share the report with your solicitor
- Request records of any re-roofing
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
- Let us know your exchange date when you book
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.
After strong winds, look at the roof from ground level. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
When to book a survey in Shoreham
Most viewings never get near the roof. You walk round the rooms, but the roof stays out of sight, and a quick glance from the street misses a lot. New paint on a ceiling can hide old water stains, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
Common reasons to book include:
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near 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.
What to check before booking
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Shoreham
Is Shoreham within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
How do I find out if my home in Shoreham is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain doesn’t usually stop a survey. Strong wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so we will agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where it applies.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll explain what’s needed.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Is a roof survey worth having alongside a home survey?
It depends on the roof and how confident you want to be. A home survey may recommend further investigation of the roof, and that is where a roof survey helps. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Gutters and downpipes
Leave it or get it looked at?
Sellers are not always aware of roof problems. The forms they complete only show what they’re aware of. An independent look tells you how the roof is now. Outbuildings and barns around Shoreham are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Why us?
- 98% of clients satisfied
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- An independent look at the roof
Take a look at our cost guide or our case studies.
Buying a home or a new roof in Shoreham
Older houses across Kent frequently 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. Material and age explain a lot of what turns up on the day, whether the roof is old or brand new. If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
Lullingstone Castle, about 1.8 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Shoreham. If you’re buying an older home nearby, it is worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing. If you own a rental within reach of Shoreham (Kent) station, the roof is worth checking before you add another property to a portfolio or pay a roofer in full.
Shoreham is about 4 miles north of Sevenoaks, in Kent. Surveys in Shoreham work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. We cover towns and villages across Kent, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
Every address in TN14 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys. We cover properties on High Street, Boakes Meadow and Church Street. Neighbouring places we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys include Badgers Mount (1 mile west), Sepham Heath (1 mile south-west), Twitton (1 mile south), Otford (2 miles south) and Lullingstone (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Dartford (8 miles north), Sevenoaks (4 miles south), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles south), Gravesend (11 miles north-east), Tonbridge (10 miles south-east) and Northfleet (10 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Shoreham
We work in homes and buildings around Raspberry Hall Park and The Old George Inn, among other places. There’s a railway station in Shoreham itself: Shoreham (Kent) station. Well-known places in the area include Sevenoaks Hospital (3.2 miles south) and Otford Heritage Centre (1.9 miles south). For a walk, there is Dryhill Nature Reserve.