Medway · London and the South East
Pre-Purchase Roof Survey in Wigmore
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat around Wigmore, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
The survey, step by step
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photos, sent to you by email. As for time on site, most surveys take between one and two hours for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. For a survey in Wigmore, we agree the time, the access and parking before the day. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The coverings, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Moisture detection, structural checks, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You receive the report, with findings prioritised by urgency, so you can raise them with the seller.
How to prepare
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Tell us about parking before the day
Getting a price
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Wigmore
Older homes frequently have roofs that have been patched over the years. 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. Our survey picks it out, with photos so you can see it for yourself. Each finding is explained in plain words, so it is clear what it means for your purchase. If you’ve noticed lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney and slates or tiles that have slipped or gone, we can find out what’s behind it, on lead flashings and valleys, clay and concrete tiles and gutters and downpipes alike.
In a smaller place like Wigmore, homes are mostly houses and bungalows, from older cottages to more recent builds. In older homes, the slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens and underlay holding them. Whether you’re buying or have just had the roof replaced, that hidden layer is worth knowing about. Breathable membranes only appeared in the late 1990s, so older roofs often have bitumen felt or nothing at all.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Wigmore (ME8)
- Region
- Medway
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Wigmore
Also in Wigmore
Can I check my roof myself?
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
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. Don’t go up yourself.
Honest limits
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- The condition of the rest of the house (that’s a RICS home survey)
- Faults hidden behind ceilings, boards or coverings
- A valuation or a promise of a lower price
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Gutters and downpipes
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
Practical tips
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Ask the agent to check the loft hatch can be opened
- Let us know your exchange date as you book
- Ask the seller about past roof repairs
- Watch for stains or fresh paint on ceilings below the roof
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. Premium comes with a follow-up after 12 months to see how things have changed.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
What we are asked to look at in Wigmore
Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999. It is frequently found in cement sheets, soffits and flue pipes. We don’t test for it or carry out asbestos surveys, but we flag materials that might so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before anything is disturbed.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Lead that has worked loose at a wall or chimney
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Loose pots and cracked flaunching
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
Historic houses such as Restoration House, about 4.4 miles north-west, show how far back building around Wigmore goes. When you buy an older home, the roof’s age, past repairs and any listing all affect what you might spend later.
Before you book anyone
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What exactly goes into their report
FAQs for Wigmore
Is my home in Wigmore listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Do you cover smaller places like Wigmore?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
How long will you be at the property?
The visit usually takes about 1–2 hours at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. We will give you an idea of timing when booking.
How quickly will I get the report?
Premium reports arrive the same day, Standard reports within 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. We send it by email, with photographs.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
How do I arrange a pre-purchase roof survey in Wigmore?
Simply ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only where it’s safe. We also inspect from ground level, upper windows and the roof space, and a drone is part of the Premium Survey where it applies.
Wigmore homes and their roofs
Wigmore lies within about 3 miles of the sea, 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. Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Whether you’re buying or checking new roofing work, knowing the materials helps make sense of what the inspection finds.
Landlords with a home close to Rainham (Kent) station may find that it is worth knowing a roof’s condition before you buy it, or before you sign off new roofing work on it. For an older house near a landmark such as St Paul's Church, a survey will show how the roof has been repaired before, which helps you judge what’s coming.
Wigmore is about 1 mile south-east of Gillingham, in Medway. Wigmore is one of many places we visit across Medway, for homes and businesses alike. Our area takes in places right across Medway, from the larger towns to small villages. There is also a page for Maidstone.
Here we cover the ME8 postcode area for pre-purchase roof surveys. Local streets include Durham Road, Harvey Road and Arthur Road. If you are just outside Wigmore, we cover Park Wood (1 mile south), Hempstead (1 mile west), Twydall (1 mile north), Gillingham (1 mile north-west) and Capstone (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Chatham (3 miles west), Rochester (5 miles north-west), Strood (6 miles north-west), Luton (3 miles west), Lordswood (3 miles south-west) and Hoo St Werburgh (5 miles north).
Near you in Wigmore
In Wigmore, that means homes and buildings near Foxburrow Wood, Howard School and The Railway pub. The nearest railway station is Rainham (Kent) station, roughly 1 mile north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Upnor Castle (4.6 miles north-west) and Pentagon Shopping Centre (3.6 miles north-west). The countryside around Wigmore includes Boxley Hills and Bishop Saltings.
Different roofs, different checks
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay plain tiles are common on older South East homes, and some still have peg tiles. Rotten pegs let tiles slide.
Natural slate
Good slate is one of the longest-lasting roof coverings, but the nails holding it corrode long before that. Slipped or missing slates are a sign of ‘nail fatigue’.