Kent · London and the South East
Bean Flat Roof Survey
An experienced roof surveyor for flat roof surveys in Bean. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
How a flat roof survey works in Bean
Standing water is one of the first things we look for on a flat roof. It can mean the falls were never right, an outlet is blocked or the deck has started to sag. The survey notes any ponding, the state of each outlet and any dips that hint at a sagging deck. Where the deck may be a structural issue, our report says a structural engineer should look at it. We survey GRP fibreglass, felt flat roofs and EPDM rubber, and the problems we are asked to look at most are blocked or damaged outlets and leaks around rooflights.
In a village or hamlet like Bean, flat roofs are typically on extensions, garages, outbuildings or barn conversions. They need the same care as any town roof: the covering, the edges, the upstands and where water drains away. The journey and access are planned beforehand. If there are outbuildings or garages with flat roofs, mention them as you book.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Place
- Bean (DA2)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- An exact number of years the roof has left
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
- Parts of the roof that aren’t safe to walk on or view
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
What we look at
- GRP fibreglass
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
- Felt flat roofs
- Mastic asphalt
- EPDM rubber
Nearby places to Bean
What else we do in Bean
Why it’s worth a survey now in Bean
Waiting for a stain inside means the water has already got through the layers. A survey can find worn areas and failing details before that point, while there’s still time to plan the work. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Bean, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Why book us in Bean
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- Prices that include VAT
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Plain-English reports with photos
DIY checks: what’s safe
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
When to book a survey in Bean
Flat roofs swing between hot and cold more than most parts of a building. This constant movement works at laps, seams and board joints, which can open splits and cracks over the years. Older coverings that have lost their flexibility are the most likely to suffer.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Leaks around rooflights
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
Take a building like Bean Primary School: large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Before you book anyone
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- What exactly goes into their report
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
How the survey works
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. The survey typically takes about one to two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. In a small place like Bean, access is normally the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You let us know about the roof, its covering if you know it, and any leaks.
- We view the roof from the ground, from windows and from the roof where it is safe to do so.
- We check and photograph the covering, the falls, the upstands, the outlets, the trims and any rooflights.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the ceilings and spaces below for signs of water.
- The findings are written up with photos and recommendations and emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
How to book
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email when you’re ready.
Related advice
FAQs for Bean
Is the coastal weather around Bean hard on roofs?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Do you cover smaller places like Bean?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Can you survey any kind of flat roof?
We cover the main flat roof coverings: felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply. We record what the covering is and how it is holding up.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If there’s a loft and safe access to it, yes. The roof space can show things the outside cannot, such as damp timbers, staining or daylight.
What will the report tell me?
It sets out what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, with photographs throughout. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too, so you know exactly what was covered.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and details are available on request.
What we look for on each type of roof
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply membranes can be damaged by foot traffic and equipment on the roof. Any tears, punctures or loose membrane are recorded with photos.
EPDM rubber
Lifting at the edges and loose areas of membrane are common EPDM problems. We record any we can see, with photographs.
Flat roofs in Bean
Bean lies within about 5 miles of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. On a flat roof near the sea, edge trims and upstands take the brunt of the wind, and metal parts corrode faster. Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises.
For businesses in and around places such as Bluewater, the flat roofs over shops and commercial units are worth checking before a leak, not after. For landlords with property near Greenhithe for Bluewater station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak.
Bean is about 3 miles west of Northfleet, in Kent. Bean is one of many places we visit across Kent, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Bean is one of the places in Kent we cover. Maidstone is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: DA2. If you need a flat roof survey at a property on High Street, Drudgeon Way and Foxwood Road or a nearby road, we can help. You will find Bean on the B255, which makes it simple to reach. We also cover the places around Bean: Green Street Green (1 mile south), Westwood (1 mile south-east), Darenth (1 mile west), Swanscombe (1 mile north) and Grubb Street (1 mile south). We also work in nearby towns such as Maidstone (15 miles south-east), Dartford (3 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (11 miles south-west), Gravesend (4 miles east), Northfleet (3 miles east) and Swanley (5 miles south-west).
Near you in Bean
Around Bean, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Beacon Wood Country Park, The Ebbsfleet Academy and The Black Horse pub and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Greenhithe for Bluewater station, about 1.7 miles north. Other landmarks nearby include Stone Museum of Geology (2.2 miles north-west) and Stone Castle (1.2 miles north). Not far away are Chafford Gorges Nature Park and Sawyers Lake.