Canterbury & Kent

Roof Surveys for Buyers and Owners

Roof Surveys from RICS chartered surveyors covering Canterbury, Kent, London and the Home Counties. Clear reports, fixed fees and fast turnaround.

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We serve Canterbury, London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, and Cardiff.

If you need an accurate assessment for an insurance claim related to roof repairs, our panel of skilled roof surveyors can help. They work independently of any parties interested in the outcome and provide a thorough diagnosis of your roof.

Your surveyor will check it from top to bottom, covering all possible weak points, and will use various methods to do so. They will note any damage not caused by you or that resulted from other parties' negligence or poor workmanship. When the surveyors are done, they will present you with a comprehensive document that has a lot of important information in it.

Defining Roof Surveys

A roof survey provides an up-close evaluation of a roofing system. When capable personnel access a roof, they perform a visual inspection of the entire system. From a protective perspective, roof inspectors must strive to maintain as much safety as is humanly possible and to avoid putting the roof at risk during the survey. Roof inspectors and their employers should look for the below key components of a roofing survey. These components allow "as is" assessments of a roof covering system to be on file for future reference and provide assurance that a roof is functioning as designed.

What elements make up the Roof Survey Report?

A detailed inspection of the roof will produce a multitude of essential facts.

1. Estimated lifespan: the inspector will give an estimate on the remaining lifespan of the roof. This is not an easy task because it involves assessing the age of the roof as well as its current condition—a partially subjective judgment. The surveyor's analysis will produce a level of confidence on how many years the roof can remain intact. Indeed, if the roofing is in good shape, it should withstand adverse weather for a minimum of 20 years.

2. Water management: inspection covers five key areas: gutters and downspouts, drainage systems, flashing, the roof's slope, and the ridge cap at the top. Poor management of water is often the primary cause of roof damp.

3. Repair or replace: if major or serious damage is found during the inspection, repairs may be recommended to remedy the problems and reduce any potential future risk. Alternatively, if the damage is really severe and the roof is in poor condition, the inspection can recommend the option to replace the roof as part of your purchasing decision.

4. Gutters and drainage systems: an all-around inspection that guarantees the gutters and drainage systems are free, clear, and properly aligned to direct water away from the roof and building.

5. Other structural features: additional features such as chimneys, vents, skylights, and structural elements that are part of the roof system will also be inspected for structural stability and any signs of wear or damage.

Roof Survey needed for Insurance Claims

Whether you are deciding on maintenance, repair, or replacement, this inspection will provide you the insight to ensure not just the safety but the roof's longevity.

Extensive documentation: when making a claim through your insurance company for roof repairs, having an independent survey report can be very beneficial. This is because the report will clearly state the extent and type of damage your roof has sustained, and what repairs, if any, are necessary to restore your home to its wind and watertight condition.

Insurance Claim Assistance: the team can therefore assist you in several ways. First, they can help you by gathering the comprehensive documentation that you will need for your claim. It is very crucial to have an examination done of the roof system and a written narrative report that is clear and precise for you to use.

Insurance Claim Assistance

Your surveyor’s report is designed to assist you in your dealings with your insurance company. It provides an independent, detailed account of the findings. Our aim is to help ensure that your insurance company meets its obligations and grants you your rightful coverage for necessary repairs.

Roof Work Planning: when you're planning work on your roof, it's important to consider whether you need a survey or inspection before the work takes place. For straightforward jobs like stripping and re-roofing, an inspection isn't likely to be necessary. However, for more complex and less predictable jobs, it's a good idea to know what condition the roof is in before you start work that could potentially harm it, or worsen damage that already exists, especially if the roof isn't currently leak-proof.

Maintaining a roof typically falls to the property owner, making it an area of frequent tension between freeholders and leaseholders. The roof is, after all, a large component of the building envelope—a critical structure that ought to protect against the elements.

The freeholder has certain duties he or she must perform in order to maintain the property, and this ranges from common parts all the way up to the roof.

Landlord Report Writing: your landlord’s freeholder duties include ensuring that the structure of your building, including the roof, is wind- and watertight. If you have significant problems with your roof, they should be taken seriously by your landlord.

Leaseholders rely on their freeholders to keep the roof over their heads in good shape. The surveying services provided by our panel can assist leaseholders when there are serious issues with their roof.