Medway · London and the South East
Cooling Flat Roof Survey
A careful look at the flat roof at your property in Cooling, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
- Standing water left after rain
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. We survey on any day of the week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
How a flat roof survey works in Cooling
Ponding is frequently the first sign that something on a flat roof isn’t right. It can point to poor falls, a blocked outlet or a deck that is deflecting. We record where water sits, check the outlets and look for dips that suggest deflection. Where the deck may be a structural issue, our report says a structural engineer should look at it. Common reasons to book are dips that suggest the deck is deflecting and gaps at upstands and abutments, on GRP fibreglass, EPDM rubber and mastic asphalt.
Older buildings in small places like Cooling may be listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. Check with the council before planning any change of material. Finding out what state the roof is in gives you the facts to plan with. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Location
- Cooling (ME3)
- Region
- Medway
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near Cooling
Other services in Cooling
What this survey can’t tell you
Before booking, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
- Parts of the roof that aren’t safe to walk on or view
- A structural engineer’s assessment of the deck
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Mastic asphalt
- Single-ply membranes
- Felt flat roofs
- GRP fibreglass
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets
What a survey costs
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
To find out what your survey will cost, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
What we need to know
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you get in touch, it helps to mention:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or email us and give us some details about the property and we’ll recommend the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
What we look for on each type of roof
Felt and built-up roofs
Felt roofs often last around 15 to 20 years, depending on how they were laid and looked after. We record how yours is doing and where it is weakest.
EPDM rubber
EPDM often lasts 30 to 50 years, but it relies on its seams, trims and upstands being well finished. Those details are where we focus.
Flat roof surveys in Cooling: local notes
Cooling is within about 3 miles of the coast, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Wind can catch loose edges and trims on a flat roof, and salt air is hard on metal trims, flashings and fixings. 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. Next to the main roofs there is typically a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
With Restoration House about 4.9 miles south, the area around Cooling has a long history. Older houses nearby often have flat roofs added much later, built to very different standards from the main roof. Take an older house close to St James' Church: later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear. If you own a rental within reach of Higham station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak.
Cooling is about 5 miles north of Rochester, in Medway. Surveys in Cooling work the same way as everywhere we cover: a proper look at whatever is safely visible, photographs and a clear written report. Cooling is one of the towns and villages in Medway we cover for flat roof surveys. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Surveys in ME3 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Main Road and Cooling Road, and we cover them all. We also cover the places around Cooling: Cooling Street (1 mile south-west), High Halstow (2 miles east), Sharnal Street (2 miles south-east), Fenn Street (2 miles east) and Chattenden (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns like Gillingham (6 miles south), Chatham (7 miles south), Rochester (5 miles south), Rainham (7 miles south-east), Strood (5 miles south-west) and Luton (6 miles south).
Landmarks near Cooling
The closest station to Cooling is Higham station, roughly 3.3 miles south-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Upnor Castle (3.4 miles south) and French Hospital (4.8 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Canvey Wick and Gad's Hill.
How it works
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. All told, expect about one to two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Older rural homes like those around Cooling can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We agree the roof to be surveyed, its use and any leaks you know about.
- We check the roof from ground level, windows and the roof where it’s safe.
- The covering is checked for wear, splits, blisters and standing water.
- We photograph and record the outlets, upstands, trims and rooflights.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Preparing for the visit
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
How to book
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
Advice
Common questions in Cooling
Is my home in Cooling listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover smaller places like Cooling?
Yes, Cooling is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access.
Do you look for flat roof leaks?
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 can’t be seen, we will say so and suggest what would help.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers. We’ll recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
Is ponding on a flat roof a problem?
Standing water on a flat roof deserves a closer look. It can point to blocked outlets, poor falls or a deck that is sagging, and it wears the covering faster. We record where it sits and the likely cause.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A small split in a flat roof is normally a modest job when it’s found early. Left alone, water can soak the insulation and the deck, and the job grows. Surveying it now tells you where you stand. Outbuildings and barns around Cooling are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why book with us
- Surveys seven days a week
- An independent view of the roof
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
Read how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.