Kent · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Burlings, Kent
We take a careful look at the flat roof at your property in Burlings, and put it all in a report with photographs.
- Leaks around rooflights
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
DIY checks: what’s safe
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
About our flat roof survey in Burlings
Each type of flat roof has its own weak points. Built-up felt tends to blister and crack, asphalt crazes and splits, EPDM can lift at its laps, and GRP can crack at board joints and edge trims. Single-ply PVC and TPO roofs are checked at their welds, edges and fixings. Knowing what you have and how it’s doing helps you plan what comes next. We’re frequently asked to look into outlets that hold water back and pools of water lying on the roof, across felt flat roofs, single-ply membranes and EPDM rubber.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Burlings take more wind and rain, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Older felt roofs, often around 15–20 years in life, show it first. Rubber and GRP last longer, though trims and joints still need a look. Exposed edges are typically the first part of a flat roof to go.
Where we can’t see part of the flat roof, the report says so. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Burlings (TN14)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens if roof problems are left?
Before replacing a flat roof, it helps to know if you really need to. Sometimes a few details are to blame, and sometimes the covering has simply had its day. Our report gives you the evidence to discuss with a roofer. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Burlings, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Burlings
- An independent look at the roof
- Visits on any day of the week
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or our case studies.
Burlings questions
Is Burlings within the area you cover?
Yes, Burlings is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
How do I find out if my home in Burlings is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Which flat roof coverings do you cover?
Felt, mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and single-ply membranes are all part of the work. The report names the covering and explains its condition.
How do you inspect a flat roof?
Where it is safe, the roof is inspected from the roof itself. Otherwise we use windows, vantage points and the spaces below, and the report says if any part couldn’t be seen. Fragile surfaces are never walked on.
What happens after the survey?
You receive the written report by email, with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Is ponding on a flat roof a problem?
Standing water a day or two after rain typically needs attention. It could be the outlets, the falls or a deflecting deck. The survey looks at each and records the likely cause.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
A precise figure is not something we give, because so much depends on upkeep, exposure and workmanship. Our report describes the condition and what needs doing, and when.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Burlings
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Also near Burlings
Also in Burlings
Flat roof surveys in Burlings: local notes
Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere. About 2.2 miles north-west lies Down House, a reminder of how long the area around Burlings has been built on. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
The streets around a church such as St Katharine's Church are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands frequently show the first signs of wear. For landlords with property near Knockholt station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round. If you look after a building like Charles Darwin School, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Burlings is about 5 miles north-west of Sevenoaks, in Kent. We survey roofs in Burlings and the rest of Kent. Across Kent, we cover Burlings and the places around it. We also survey roofs in London.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: TN14. If you’re just outside Burlings, we cover Horns Green (1 mile south-west), Cudham (1 mile north-west), Berry's Green (1 mile west), Single Street (1 mile north-west) and Luxted (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Dartford (11 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (5 miles south-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles south-east), Gravesend (15 miles north-east), Tonbridge (11 miles south-east) and Northfleet (14 miles north-east).
Near you in Burlings
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Blacksmith's Arms. Burlings’s nearest station is Knockholt station, roughly 3 miles north-east. Other landmarks nearby include Orpington Hospital (3.6 miles north). The countryside around Burlings includes Downe Bank and Betsom's Hill.
How it works
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes an hour or two for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Somewhere like Burlings needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- First we go through the roof, what’s beneath it and any problems so far.
- The roof is viewed from safe positions, including the roof itself where that is safe.
- We check the covering for splits, blisters, ponding and wear.
- We photograph and record the outlets, upstands, trims and rooflights.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Before the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Leave side gates unlocked
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
Book a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Mastic asphalt
Asphalt has no laps, so its weak points are cracks and the skirtings at walls and upstands. We record any crazing or splits and where water may be getting in.
EPDM rubber
EPDM is a synthetic rubber membrane, often laid in a single sheet on smaller roofs. We check the laps, the edges, the corners and any punctures.
What affects the price in Burlings
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The size of the roof
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Getting in touch
These details help when you get in touch:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- What kind of property and roof it is
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or email us to find out.