Kent · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Whitfield, Kent
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Whitfield, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
What affects the price in Whitfield
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- How big the roof is
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
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.
Helping us price your survey
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- What’s prompted the survey
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
When you are ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Pre-purchase roof survey in Whitfield
Many older houses carry decades of roof repairs. Slates slip when their nails corrode, lead valleys and flashings wear, and chimney pointing crumbles. Little of that is easy to judge from the pavement on a viewing. We look closely and record what we see, with photos that show you exactly where. Each finding is explained in plain words, so it’s clear what it means for your purchase. We survey gutters and downpipes, clay and concrete tiles and the roof space, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are worn or lifted lead flashings and damp timbers or stains in the loft.
Smaller places like Whitfield often have bungalows and cottages as well as houses, and many have been extended or had dormers added. Even on a low roof, dormers, valleys and flat-roofed additions need a careful look. That applies whether you’re buying in Whitfield or checking a new roof there. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Whitfield (CT16)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. A visit to a smaller place like Whitfield is no different on the day: we look from ground level, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it’s safe. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- Once your offer has been accepted, you book and give us the address and your timescale.
- Access is arranged through you, the agent or the seller.
- The roof is inspected from each safe vantage point, inside and out.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations to read before exchange.
Before the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Getting a price
We confirm the price for your roof before you book, so you know where you stand. Pre-purchase roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Whitfield: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Whitfield?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Will you come out to Whitfield?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you need to go inside the property?
Ideally, yes. The loft tells us a lot about the roof, and upstairs windows give useful views. The agent or seller can arrange entry.
How quickly will I get the report?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Let us know your timetable when you book.
Do you test for 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.
When should I book a pre-purchase roof survey?
After your offer is accepted and before you exchange contracts. That way you can still act on what we find, whether that means asking questions or negotiating.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Other services in Whitfield
DIY checks: what’s safe
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Roof by roof
Gutters and parapets
The rainwater system keeps water off the walls. Leaking joints, sagging lengths and blockages are all noted, along with fascias and soffits.
Flat roofs
Flat roofs on extensions, dormers and garages are easy to forget about. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM rubber 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30. We check how the covering is wearing.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Whitfield
Whitfield is within about 3 miles of the coast, 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 a downpour. Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. 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.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Peter, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light. Landlords with a home close to Kearsney station may find that it’s worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it.
Whitfield is about 1 mile north of Dover, in Kent. Whitfield is part of the area we cover as part of our work across London and the South East. We cover towns and villages across Kent. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
Pre-purchase roof surveys in CT16 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need a pre-purchase roof survey at a property on Khartoum Square, Wheatsheaf Square and Alison Crescent or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover Temple Ewell (1 mile south-west), River (1 mile south-west), Kearsney (1 mile south-west), Dover (1 mile south) and Lydden (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Canterbury (12 miles north-west), Folkestone (8 miles south-west), Ramsgate (13 miles north), Broadstairs (15 miles north-east), Deal (6 miles north-east) and Hythe (11 miles south-west).
Near you in Whitfield
In Whitfield, that means homes and buildings near Old Park Hill and St Edmund's Catholic School and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Kearsney station, roughly 1.2 miles south-west. Well-known places in the area include Buckland Hospital (1.9 miles south) and Dover Transport Museum (0.7 miles south). The countryside around Whitfield includes Dover Western Heights.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Whitfield
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. We survey on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photos.
What a pre-purchase roof survey does not cover
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- Asbestos testing of any kind
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers