Kent · London and the South East
Charing Flat Roof Survey
Flat roof surveys around Charing, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
Flat and commercial roofs around Charing
Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere. With Godinton House about 3.9 miles south-east, Charing sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you look after a building such as Charing Church of England Primary School, a large flat roof with a good many outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. If you let a flat or house near Charing station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Charing is about 6 miles north-west of Ashford, in Kent. Charing is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Maidstone.
Flat roof surveys in TN27 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. That includes homes and businesses on The High Street, Market Place and Station Road. We also cover the places around Charing: Charing Heath (1 mile west), Cold Harbour (2 miles north-west), Lenham Heath (2 miles west), Stonebridge Green (2 miles west) and Lenham Forstal (3 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Maidstone (12 miles west), Ashford (6 miles south-east), Canterbury (13 miles east), Sittingbourne (9 miles north), Whitstable (14 miles north-east) and Faversham (8 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Charing
We work in homes and buildings around Spuckles and Kennelling Woods and King's Head Public House, among other places. There’s a railway station in Charing itself: Charing station. Other landmarks nearby include Coldbridge Castle (4.3 miles west).
Flat roof survey in Charing: what you get
Our flat roof survey checks the waterproof covering and every detail around it, from edges and upstands to outlets and rooflights. We cover felt, mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and single-ply roofs. We survey extension, garage and dormer roofs as well as bigger roofs on flats, offices and units. You get a report with photos and our recommendations. We survey GRP fibreglass, EPDM rubber and felt flat roofs, and people most frequently book us about splits, cracks and crazing and blocked or damaged outlets.
Flat roofs in smaller places like Charing can be more exposed, especially where nothing shelters them, where wind can catch loose edges and trims. Sun on a flat roof also ages felt and bitumen. The signs are splits, blisters and edges coming away, along with water that sits after rain. A flat roof that still holds water days after rain is also worth a closer look.
You receive the findings 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
- Charing (TN27)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
Getting the most from a flat roof survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Watch the ceilings below the flat roof for stains
- Clear roof outlets and gutters each autumn
- Never stand on rooflights or fragile sheeting
- Keep people off the roof unless they need to be there
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It explains the covering, its condition and every defect, and what we recommend. Turnaround is within 48 hours for a Basic Survey, 24 to 48 hours for a Standard Survey and the same day for a Premium Survey.
Keep outlets, gutters and hoppers clear, particularly after the leaves fall. A flat roof that drains well wears much more slowly.
What affects the cost of flat roof surveys
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- How big the roof is
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Getting in touch
We will typically ask about:
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
What we do, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. It normally takes about one to two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Homes around Charing often have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. The loft, where there’s safe access, completes the picture.
- First you give us the address, what the roof covers and any leaks you’ve noticed.
- We view the roof from the ground, from windows and from the roof where it is safe to do so.
- The covering, falls, upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where we can reach them.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Let us know where we can park nearby
How to book
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
What we look for on each type of roof
Felt and built-up roofs
The edges and upstands of a felt roof are typically where trouble starts. Every upstand and edge is looked at, with photos of any that have lifted or cracked.
GRP fibreglass
A well-laid GRP roof frequently lasts up to about 30 years. Hairline cracks over board joints are an early warning we look out for.
Charing questions
Is Charing within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Charing?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and Charing is part of that. Just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Will the survey show why my flat roof is leaking?
We check the whole roof, since water can travel before it shows inside. Splits, open laps, upstands, outlets and rooflights are all checked. If the cause cannot be seen, we will say so and suggest what would help.
How long will you be at the property?
It usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, and longer for a large or complex roof. The report follows by email.
Do you look in the loft space?
Usually, if there is one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
Will this cover the whole house?
No. Our survey covers the flat roof only. It is not a RICS Level 2 or 3 home survey or a structural engineer’s report. Many buyers use it alongside a building survey.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
Common roof problems in Charing
A flat roof lies open to sun, rain and frost, and water drains off it slowly. In time, the covering dries out, cracks and loosens at its edges and laps. Most people book a survey after a leak, before buying, or when they think the roof is getting old.
People normally book a survey after spotting something like this:
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Standing water left after rain
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Peter and St Paul, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands frequently show the first signs of wear.
What to check before booking
- What insurance they carry
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
Checking the roof from the ground
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in.