Kent · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Radfall
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings for Radfall, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Torn or sagging underlay
- Worn lead at chimneys and abutments
- Leaking gutter joints and downpipes
How a roof survey works in Radfall
Roof coverings last a long time, but not for ever. Slate often lasts a century or more, and tiles commonly half a century, but the fixings and underlay beneath them frequently give out sooner. A survey shows which parts of your roof are wearing. Knowing that helps you plan work before it becomes urgent. If you’ve noticed lifted, split or missing lead flashings and water stains on rafters and ceiling joists, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Some older homes in villages like Radfall are listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Place
- Radfall (CT5)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.
How the survey changes by roof type
Flat roof coverings
Felt flat roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, while EPDM rubber frequently lasts 30 to 50 years and GRP up to about 30. We check its condition and the signs of age.
Natural slate
Natural slate can last 100 years or more, but its nails often corrode first. We check for slipped, cracked and missing slates.
Radfall questions
Is my home in Radfall listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Do you cover smaller places like Radfall?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Do you go up on the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We also inspect from ground level, from windows and vantage points, and from the loft. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement, as far as the space allows.
Does a roof survey replace a structural engineer?
No. If we see signs that need an engineer, such as serious sagging, we’ll say so. We do not provide structural calculations.
Honest limits
No survey can tell you everything, and it’s better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- The condition of the rest of the building (that is a RICS home survey)
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Flat roofs
- Clay and concrete tiles
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Natural slate
Local roofs in Radfall
Radfall is within about 2 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles, while driving rain finds any gap. 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. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
If you let a flat or house near Chestfield & Swalecliffe station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Radfall is about 2 miles south-east of Whitstable, in Kent. Wherever you are in Radfall, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our Kent coverage includes Radfall and the places around it.
All of CT5 is within our area for roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include Radfall Road, Broomfield Gate and Dukeswood, and we cover them all. Other places close to Radfall include Chestfield (1 mile north), West End (1 mile north-east), Swalecliffe (2 miles north), Whitstable (2 miles north-west) and Tankerton (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (4 miles south), Margate (14 miles east), Sittingbourne (14 miles west), Ramsgate (15 miles east), Faversham (8 miles west) and Herne Bay (4 miles north-east).
What’s near Radfall
The closest station to Radfall is Chestfield & Swalecliffe station, roughly 1.5 miles north. A little further out are Tankerton Castle (2.3 miles north-west) and Sidney Cooper Museum (4 miles south). For a walk, there’s West Blean and Thornden Woods.
What we are asked to look at in Radfall
Not every roof problem comes from outside. A badly ventilated loft collects condensation, and the damp gets into timbers and insulation. It is often mistaken for a leak, and it needs a different fix.
We’re frequently asked to look at:
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
- Debris building up in roof valleys
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Standing water on a flat roof
If you look after a building like The Whitstable School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
What to check before booking
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What experience they bring
How we price roof surveys
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Roof area
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The shape of the roof and its details
Prices start from £150, including VAT, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both with VAT included. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
What to tell us when you contact us
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- What’s prompted the survey
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Where the property is, with the postcode
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
The survey, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a written report with photos, emailed to you. As for time on site, it usually takes between one and two hours for a house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Around Radfall, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You let us know about the property and any concerns.
- We agree a date, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect from ground level, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where safe.
- Slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are all examined and photographed.
- We email a report with photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
How to book
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or email us.