Kent · London and the South East
St Mary's Bay Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Get a clear view of the roof at a property in St Mary's Bay from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
Do you need a pre-purchase roof survey in St Mary's Bay?
Viewings rarely include a proper look at the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates. New paint on a ceiling can hide old water stains, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
Around St Mary's Bay, as everywhere, small roof faults are simplest to sort before they let water in.
Before you book anyone
- How soon the report will arrive
- What experience they bring
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Whether the price includes VAT
Pre-purchase roof survey in St Mary's Bay: what you get
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, and the roof is only one part of it. We don’t offer a RICS home survey, and ours is not a substitute for one. What it adds is a closer look at the roof alone, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. You can have both if you want the fullest picture. If you’re worried about blocked or leaking gutters and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Smaller places like St Mary's Bay often have bungalows and cottages as well as houses, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Low roofs are easier to see from the ground, but dormer cheeks, valleys and flat-roofed additions still need close attention. The same goes for a purchase or a new roof around St Mary's Bay. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
After the visit, you get a report with photographs, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- St Mary's Bay (TN29)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
St Mary's Bay homes and their roofs
St Mary's Bay lies within about 1 mile of the sea, and wind near the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain. If the drone is used for your survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
For an older house near a landmark such as All Saints, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
St Mary's Bay is about 6 miles south-west of Hythe, in Kent. Surveys in St Mary's Bay work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. We cover towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
All of TN29 is covered for pre-purchase roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include Maple Drive, Oak Drive and Beechwood Close, and we cover them all. Other places close to St Mary's Bay include St Mary in the Marsh (1 mile west), Burmarsh (3 miles north), Newchurch (3 miles north-west), Postling Green (5 miles north) and Bonnington (6 miles north). Larger places within reach include Ashford (10 miles north-west), Folkestone (10 miles north-east), Hythe (6 miles north-east), Hawkinge (11 miles north-east), Tenterden (13 miles west) and Cheriton (9 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in St Mary's Bay
We work in homes and buildings around Romney Warren Country Park. Nearby you’ll also find Romney 'castle' (3.6 miles west).
What a survey costs
Our packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- House, block, shop or office
Every price we give includes VAT. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for your survey before you book.
Getting in touch
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- The property’s address and postcode
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- When you need the report by
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Landlords, agents and block managers in St Mary's Bay
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photographs.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in St Mary's Bay. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
FAQs for St Mary's Bay
Is the coastal weather around St Mary's Bay hard on roofs?
Often, yes. Within about 1 mile of the sea, as St Mary's Bay is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in St Mary's Bay?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Does someone need to be in?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access when booking.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
They do different things. A home survey looks at the whole property, while ours looks only at the roof, in more detail. Ours sits alongside a RICS survey rather than replacing it.
Will the roof report help me negotiate with the seller?
Yes. The report sets out what we found, with photos, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. We cannot promise how the seller will respond.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it is safe to do so. Much of the inspection is done from the ground, from windows and from the roof space. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
How the survey works
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will take it from there. A typical survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Homes around St Mary's Bay frequently have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Mention any side of the property we can’t get to. The loft, where there’s safe access, completes the picture.
- You choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey to suit the home you are buying.
- 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.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
How to prepare
- Keep pets in another room
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Arrange a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Read more
Tips from our surveys
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
- For a flat, check who is responsible for the roof
- Book once your offer is accepted
Your report arrives by email, with photos of what we found. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Each defect is explained in plain words, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Dealing with them early keeps water out.
Also near St Mary's Bay
Other services in St Mary's Bay
DIY checks: what’s safe
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.