Kent · London and the South East
Cotman's Ash Flat Roof Survey
Flat roof surveys around Cotman's Ash, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Leaks around rooflights
- Ponding water that does not drain away
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
Flat roof surveys around Cotman's Ash
Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere. With Lullingstone Castle about 3.4 miles north-west, Cotman's Ash sits in an area with a long building history. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
Take a building like Kemsing Primary School: a large flat roof with lots of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof.
Cotman's Ash is about 3 miles north-east of Sevenoaks, in Kent. Bookings from Cotman's Ash are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our Kent coverage includes Cotman's Ash. There is also a page for Maidstone.
Flat roof surveys in TN15 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We also cover the places around Cotman's Ash: Woodlands (1 mile north-east), Heaverham (1 mile south-east), Knatts Valley (1 mile north), Romney Street (1 mile north-west) and Kemsing (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles east), Dartford (9 miles north), Sevenoaks (3 miles south-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (13 miles south), Gravesend (10 miles north-east) and Tonbridge (8 miles south).
Local landmarks in Cotman's Ash
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Rising Sun pub and Kemsing Down and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Kemsing station, about 1.4 miles south of the centre. A little further out are Kemsing Castle Bank (0.9 miles south-west) and Sevenoaks Hospital (2.8 miles south-west). Open spaces near Cotman's Ash include Dryhill Nature Reserve.
How a flat roof survey works in Cotman's Ash
We inspect a flat roof from wherever it can be seen safely: on the roof where it is safe, from windows and higher ground, and from the rooms below where we can reach them. We do not walk on fragile rooflights or fragile roof sheeting. Where any area can’t be viewed safely, we say so in the report, so you know exactly what was covered. If you’ve noticed pools of water lying on the roof and damaged trims at the roof edge, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Older buildings in small places like Cotman's Ash 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. Knowing the roof’s condition is the starting point. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
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.
- Location
- Cotman's Ash (TN15)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from ground level
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight.
It is useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry.
Cotman's Ash questions
Will you come out to Cotman's Ash?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Cotman's Ash?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Can you tell me how long my flat roof will last?
A precise figure isn’t something we give, because so much depends on upkeep, exposure and workmanship. We describe the condition and say which work is urgent and which can wait.
How long does the survey take?
Expect it to take an hour or two for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. The written report follows by email.
What’s in the report?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos. The most urgent items are made clear.
Why it is worth a survey now in Cotman's Ash
By the time a flat roof leak shows indoors, water has already passed through the roof build-up. A survey can find worn areas and failing details before that point, while there is still time to plan the work. For older village homes like those around Cotman's Ash, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Every price we give includes VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for your survey before you book.
Why us?
- Photos and a written report every time
- An independent view of the roof
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or our case studies.
The survey, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photographs, emailed to you. On timing, most surveys take about 1–2 hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. For a village or hamlet like Cotman's Ash, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- We agree the roof to be surveyed, its use and any leaks you know about.
- We look at the roof from ground level, windows and the roof where it 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 photos and recommendations, comes to you by email.
How to prepare
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Book a survey
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before you book.
Read more
Common roof problems in Cotman's Ash
Every flat roof covering has a working life. Around 15 to 20 years is common for felt, while EPDM often lasts 30 to 50 years and GRP up to about 30, though workmanship and upkeep make a big difference. We can tell you how your roof is doing, whatever its age.
Problems we come across often include:
- Standing water left after rain
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
For landlords with property near Kemsing station, a flat roof over a rented flat is easy to forget until the tenant reports a leak.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- How soon the report will arrive
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Places near Cotman's Ash
Also in Cotman's Ash
Prices for flat roof surveys in Cotman's Ash
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- Height and safe access
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both including VAT. You will know the price for your roof before booking.
What to tell us when you get in touch
These details help when you contact us:
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The property’s address and postcode
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
When you need someone else
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
- Parts of the roof that are not safe to walk on or view
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
- Mastic asphalt
- Felt flat roofs
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets