Kent · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Thong
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Thong from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
Pre-purchase roof survey in Thong
Older homes often have roofs that have been patched over the years. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. 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 it’s clear what it means for your purchase. If you are worried about ponding, blisters or splits on a flat roof and slipped or missing slates and tiles, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Thong, 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. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
Where we cannot see part of the roof, the report says so. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Thong (DA12)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from ground level
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
Practical tips
You do not need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Book once your offer is accepted
- Notice patches of new decoration in top-floor rooms
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Ask who repairs the roof under the lease
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. The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up.
Keep an eye on chimneys and flashings in your new home. Look for leaning pots, missing mortar and lifted lead. A pair of binoculars from the garden shows a lot.
What this survey can’t tell you
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- How a seller will respond, or what the house is worth
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- Whether timbers meet design loads
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll recommend the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney stacks
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Gutters and downpipes
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
What we do, step by step
The visit has one job: to look at the roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit typically takes an hour or two for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. Cottages and farmhouses around Thong often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- Once your offer is accepted, you tell us the address and when you hope to exchange.
- 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.
- Inside, we check the roof space and look at the roof from windows.
- The report is emailed with photos and recommendations, ready to use before exchange.
How to prepare
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Booking a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Read more
Landlord and commercial surveys in Thong
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps when budgeting.
FAQs for Thong
Is Thong within the area you cover?
Yes, Thong is covered. Our area covers London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Is my home in Thong listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
The sooner after your offer is accepted, the better. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Do you need access inside the house?
Ideally, yes. We look in the roof space where there’s safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is normally arranged through the agent or seller.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the survey around it.
What we look for on each type of roof
Gutters and parapets
Some older terraces have a butterfly roof with a central valley gutter. If the home you are buying has one, that gutter and its outlet get a careful look.
Natural slate
Slate is common on Victorian and Edwardian houses. We look for slates that have slid, cracked or gone, and for clips or tingles that show past repairs.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Thong
Thong is within about 4 miles of the coast, and wind near the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. For a purchase or a newly finished roof, the materials decide which details matter most.
Landlords with a home close to Sole Street station may find that a written report helps before buying a rental or paying for a new roof on one. If you live in an older home 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. With Cobham College about 1.5 miles south, the area around Thong has a long history. If you’re buying an older home nearby, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before you plan any re-roofing.
Thong is about 2 miles south-east of Gravesend, in Kent. Roofs in Thong get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Kent. Our area takes in places right across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Maidstone is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: DA12. We also cover Upper Ifield (1 mile east), Shorne Ridgeway (1 mile east), Shorne (1 mile east), Chalk (1 mile north) and Higham (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (11 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (15 miles east), Dartford (8 miles west), Sevenoaks (13 miles south-west), Northfleet (3 miles north-west) and Swanley (10 miles west).
Landmarks near Thong
Typical jobs here are in homes near Shorne Woods Country Park and Thamesview School and the streets around them. Thong’s nearest station is Sole Street station, about 2.2 miles south-west. Other landmarks nearby include Rochester Castle (4.5 miles east) and Gravesham Museum (2.6 miles north-west). Not far away are Rede Common and Gad's Hill.