Kent · London and the South East
Upper Ifield Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Upper Ifield, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
Common roof problems in Upper Ifield
Gutter problems often look minor from the street. Water spilling over a gutter soaks brickwork and can rot fascias and rafter ends. Valley and parapet gutters can overflow inside the house. We check them as part of the survey.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Quick fixes on flashings and valleys
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
- Roof slopes that look uneven or sagging
- Worn or lifted lead flashings
The streets around a church such as Church of St Peter and St Paul are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- What happens after the report arrives
- When you’ll get the report
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Upper Ifield
Our packages start with the Basic Survey from £150, while Standard starts from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT. Standard adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. Premium adds thermal imaging, a drone inspection where applicable and an in-person consultation. Pick the one that fits the property. Every package comes with a written report, photos and recommendations. If you are worried about bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs and signs of past leaks inside the loft, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like Upper Ifield, 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. 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 can’t see part of the roof, the report says so. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- Upper Ifield (DA12)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Also in Upper Ifield
Local roofs and buyers in Upper Ifield
Upper Ifield is within about 3 miles of the coast, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, which is worth knowing before you buy or pay for new work. The wider area around Upper Ifield has a long history of building, with Cobham College about 1.9 miles south-west. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For landlords with property near Higham station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Upper Ifield is about 2 miles south-east of Gravesend, in Kent. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Upper Ifield can all book pre-purchase roof surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. We cover towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our Maidstone page covers surveys nearby.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in DA12 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Other places close to Upper Ifield include Shorne (1 mile east), Shorne Ridgeway (1 mile south-east), Thong (1 mile west), Chalk (1 mile north) and Higham (2 miles east). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (11 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (14 miles east), Dartford (9 miles west), Sevenoaks (14 miles south-west), Northfleet (3 miles north-west) and Swanley (11 miles west).
Near you in Upper Ifield
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Rose and Crown pub, Thamesview School and Shorne Woods Country Park. For rail, the closest station is Higham station, about 2.2 miles north-east. Nearby you’ll also find Gravesham Community Hospital (3.1 miles north-west) and Gravesham Museum (3 miles north-west). For a walk, there is Sawyers Lake and Rede Common.
Upper Ifield questions
Is my home in Upper Ifield listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is the coastal weather around Upper Ifield hard on roofs?
Often, yes. Upper Ifield is within about 3 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We look at the parts we’re given access to.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Ideally, yes. We look in the roof space where there’s safe access, and upstairs windows give useful views. Access is usually arranged through the agent or seller.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We inspect from the ground, 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.
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roofs
Standing water, blisters, splits and tired upstands all point to wear. We check outlets too, since a blocked one leaves water sitting on the roof, and we say what we see from wherever is safe.
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings are a common source of leaks, so we check each one closely. We photograph any that need work.
The survey, step by step
There is not much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In a hamlet or village like Upper Ifield, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the loft space is agreed in advance.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- Inside, we check the loft space and look at the roof from windows.
- You get a report with photos and recommendations before you exchange.
Before we arrive
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
How to book
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Read more
What you can safely check yourself
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Upper Ifield
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when you book and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.
Tips that help
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Check we will be able to get into the loft space
- Do not leave it until just before exchange
- Ask for any paperwork for recent roof work
- Share the report with your solicitor
After you move in, keep the report somewhere safe. Deal with the urgent items first, and keep the photos to compare against later. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months to see how things have changed.
Once you’ve moved in, keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Blocked gutters cause much of the damp we see. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.