Kent · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Cliffs End, Kent
Find out what’s going on with the flat roof before you decide what to do next. Flat roof surveys in Cliffs End, with photos and a clear written report.
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
How it works
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes roughly 1–2 hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. For a village or hamlet like Cliffs End, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- 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.
- We check and photograph the covering, the falls, the upstands, the outlets, the trims and any rooflights.
- Inside, we look for damp and staining under the roof where there is access.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects we found and what we recommend.
How to prepare
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Arrange a survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Advice
Flat roof survey in Cliffs End: what you get
We inspect a flat roof from wherever it can be seen safely: from the roof itself where that is safe, from windows and nearby vantage points, and from inside where there’s access. We don’t walk on fragile rooflights or fragile roof sheeting. If part of the roof can’t be seen or reached safely, the report says so, so the limits of the survey are clear. If you’re worried about gaps at upstands and abutments and leaks around rooflights, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a small place like Cliffs End, a flat roof can stand in the open, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Felt roofs, which often last around 15–20 years, typically show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. Exposed edges are usually the first part of a flat roof to go.
After the visit, you get a photo-illustrated written report, sent by email. It explains the condition of the flat roof, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Cliffs End (CT12)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we are asked to look at in Cliffs End
Buyers frequently book after their home survey suggests a closer look at a flat roof. Building owners and managing agents book to plan maintenance, or before a sale or a new lease. Either way, you get a clear record of the roof, with photographs.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Water getting in at rooflights
- A sagging deck under the covering
- Pools of water lying on the roof
If you let a flat or house near Thanet Parkway station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Before booking anyone
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- What experience they bring
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
What we look for on each type of roof
Felt and built-up roofs
The edges and upstands of a felt roof are usually where trouble starts. We check each one and photograph any that have split or pulled away.
EPDM rubber
EPDM frequently lasts 30 to 50 years, but it relies on its seams, trims and upstands being well finished. We look closely at each of those details.
What we can’t see
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Asbestos testing, which needs a specialist asbestos surveyor
- Fragile surfaces, which we do not walk on
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Cliffs End
- Felt flat roofs
- GRP fibreglass
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
- Mastic asphalt
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when booking and it will help the survey.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it as you book and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
FAQs for Cliffs End
Is the coastal weather around Cliffs End hard on roofs?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there’s more wind, and more salt in the air. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it usually shows.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Cliffs End?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you check flat roofs for asbestos?
Our survey doesn’t include asbestos testing. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos, for instance in cement roof sheets. Anything that might contain it is flagged, so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before work starts.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
What happens next?
We email you the written report with photos and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes, every report has them. Pictures sit next to the findings they show.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
Flat and commercial roofs around Cliffs End
The coast is about 1 mile or less from Cliffs End, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further 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. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Next to the main roofs there’s usually a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
If you look after a building such as Chilton Primary School, schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks. Take an older house close to St Mary: the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Cliffs End is about 2 miles west of Ramsgate, in Kent. Wherever you are in Cliffs End, we can carry out flat roof surveys at your property. Our Kent coverage includes Cliffs End. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
We survey roofs across CT12 for flat roof surveys. We cover properties on Foads Lane, Moyes Close and Delacourt Close. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Sevenscore (1 mile west), Chilton (1 mile east), Pegwell (1 mile east), Manston (1 mile north) and Ebbsfleet (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (13 miles west), Margate (4 miles north), Dover (14 miles south), Broadstairs (4 miles north-east), Whitstable (15 miles west) and Deal (8 miles south).
Around Cliffs End
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Sportsman pub, Chatham House Grammar School and Sandwich and Pegwell Bay, among other places. There’s a railway station in Cliffs End itself: Thanet Parkway station. A little further out are RAF Manston History Museum (1.6 miles north-west) and Westwood Cross (2.4 miles north-east). Not far away are Sandwich and Pegwell Bay.