Kent · London and the South East
Staple Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Know where you stand with the roof before you decide what to do next. Pre-purchase roof surveys in Staple, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Staple
Some roofs can’t be seen well from ground level or from windows. Our Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and, where applicable, a drone inspection, and the report arrives the same day. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we will say so and inspect from every other safe vantage point. We are often asked to look into cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing and quick fixes on flashings and valleys, across lead flashings and valleys, gutters and downpipes and the roof space.
In a village or hamlet like Staple, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses alongside a few newer houses. Village roofs can be clay tile, slate, stone or even thatch on some older buildings. Whether you are 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.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Staple (CT3)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings are a common source of leaks, so they get close attention in a pre-purchase survey. Any that need attention are photographed and explained.
Gutters and parapets
Parapet and box gutters are hidden behind walls and can overflow inside. We look at their linings and outlets from wherever is safe.
What we cannot see
It’s a careful look at the roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Walls, floors, services and rooms below the roof
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Whether timbers meet design loads
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
FAQs for Staple
Do you carry out roof surveys in Staple?
Yes, Staple is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
How do I find out if my home in Staple is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s 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.
How long does a pre-purchase roof survey take?
Allow between one and two hours at a typical home, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. We’ll give you an idea of timing as you book.
Should I get a roof survey as well as a RICS home survey?
That depends on how much you want to know about the roof. Home surveys sometimes suggest a closer look at the roof, and that’s where a roof survey helps. It is not a replacement for a RICS survey.
Do you go up on the roof?
Where it’s safe, yes. We inspect from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. The Premium Survey adds a drone inspection where it applies.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you when booking.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
What a survey costs
We confirm the exact price before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- House, block, shop or office
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for the job before booking.
Getting in touch
You do not need to know any roofing terms. It is enough to tell us:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The kind of building and roof involved
- What made you get in touch
We survey roofs seven days a week. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or email us.
What happens on the day
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. The whole visit normally takes roughly 1–2 hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. For a village or hamlet like Staple, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed in advance.
- We start outside, looking at the roof from the ground and from vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Book a survey
To get a price for pre-purchase roof surveys in Staple, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Read more
What we’re asked to look at in Staple
Viewings rarely include a proper look at the roof. You see the rooms, not the slates. Fresh decoration can also cover the marks an old leak left behind, so a closer look is worth having before you commit.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St James, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
What to check before booking
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
Buying a home or a new roof in Staple
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. The covering on a house you’re buying, or on a roof just finished, tells us where to look hardest.
With Goodnestone Park about 1.9 miles south-west, the area around Staple has a long history. Older homes in the area can come with listed status or conservation area rules, which affect re-roofing, so check with the council before you buy. If you let a flat or house near Adisham station, a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one.
Staple is about 7 miles north-west of Deal, in Kent. In Staple, as across Kent, every roof gets the same careful survey. We cover towns and villages across Kent, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Canterbury page.
We work across the CT3 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. You will find streets such as The Street, Rowan Close and School Lane, all of which we cover. If you’re just outside Staple, we cover Barnsole (1 mile south-east), Twitham (1 mile west), Durlock (1 mile north), Flemings (1 mile east) and Guilton (1 mile north-east). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (8 miles west), Margate (10 miles north-east), Dover (9 miles south), Folkestone (13 miles south), Ramsgate (8 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (10 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Staple
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Three Tuns pub. Staple’s nearest station is Adisham station, roughly 2.9 miles south-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include White Mill (3.3 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Monk's Wall nature reserve.
Before and after the survey
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Arrange the survey as soon as your offer is agreed
- Mention any deadline when you contact us
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
Once the home is yours, the report becomes a maintenance list. Work through the urgent items before anything else, and use the photos as a record of how the roof looked when you bought. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months.
Do not block the vents at the eaves. Poor ventilation lets condensation build up, wetting timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents so air can move.