Kent · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Dover, Kent
Find out the condition of the flat roof at your property in Dover. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Splits and cracks in the covering
Signs you need a flat roof survey in Dover
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, although how well it was laid and looked after matters a great deal. We can tell you how your roof is doing, whatever its age.
Problems we come across often include:
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- A sagging deck under the covering
Take a building like Shatterlocks Infant School: schools and public buildings frequently have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks.
What to check before booking
- Is VAT included in the price?
- What exactly goes into their report
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Dover
A Basic Survey, from £150, covers a visual inspection, a condition report, photos and written recommendations. For moisture detection and a structural check, the Standard Survey starts from £250. Moisture readings are useful on flat roofs, where water can spread under the covering before it shows inside. Bigger commercial roofs are priced on their size and access. Common reasons to book are cracked or split membrane and gaps at upstands and abutments, across single-ply membranes, felt flat roofs and GRP fibreglass.
Shops, surgeries, schools and small business units in towns like Dover often have flat roofs. Out of sight, they tend to be forgotten until a leak appears. A careful look at outlets, upstands and the membrane itself shows where it stands. Let us know who manages the building so access to the roof can be arranged.
What you get is a clear record of the flat roof on the day we saw it. It is useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Where
- Dover (CT17, CT16, CT15, CT14)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Note the date and type of any roof work
- Clear roof outlets and gutters each autumn
- Plan a survey before the covering reaches the end of its usual life
- Never stand on rooflights or fragile sheeting
If you’re buying, the report gives you something specific to take back to the seller or agent. It can support a request for work before completion or a conversation about price, depending on what we found.
Keep foot traffic on a flat roof to a minimum. Where someone does need access, ask them to use boards or a protected route, and remind them never to step on rooflights or fragile sheets.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Dover
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed ahead of time. Surveys run on any day of the week, which can make access easier.
What we can’t see
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
- Areas we cannot see or reach safely, including fragile rooflights and sheeting
- Testing older roof sheets for asbestos
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Mastic asphalt
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
- Felt flat roofs
- GRP fibreglass
- EPDM rubber
Flat roof surveys around Dover
Dover is within about 2 miles of the coast, so there is 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. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, ideally before any re-roofing is planned.
For hotels and guest houses around Dover, a roof problem found early is far less disruptive than one found by a guest, so it is worth knowing the roof’s condition. If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Parish Church of St Andrew Buckland, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking.
Dover is in Kent. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Dover can all book flat roof surveys. Across Kent, we cover Dover and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Canterbury page.
Flat roof surveys in CT17, CT16, CT15 and CT14 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include London Road, High Street and Church Road, all of which we cover. Being close to the A2 and A20, Dover is simple for us to get to for flat roof surveys. We also cover the places around Dover: River (1 mile north-west), Maxton (1 mile south), Kearsney (1 mile north-west), Whitfield (1 mile north) and Temple Ewell (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (14 miles north-west), Folkestone (7 miles south-west), Ramsgate (15 miles north), Deal (7 miles north-east), Hythe (11 miles south-west) and Walmer (6 miles north-east). Dover is one of the larger places we cover in Kent.
Near you in Dover
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Connaught Park, The Bull pub and St Edmund's Catholic School and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Dover Priory station, about 0.9 miles south. Other landmarks nearby include Dover Castle (1.3 miles south-east) and Crabble Corn Mill (0.7 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Dover Western Heights.
Why act early in Dover
Before replacing a flat roof, it helps to know if you really need to. At times the trouble is a handful of failed details, and at times the whole covering is worn. The report sets out what we found, so you can make that decision with a roofer. Once water reaches the loft insulation in a home in Dover, it loses much of its value and is slow to dry. That adds to the bill long before the leak is obvious.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. You’ll know the figure before booking.
What you get with us
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Surveys seven days a week
- Photographs and a written report every time
- PI and public liability insurance
Read how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
Your questions about flat roof surveys in Dover
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Dover?
It can do. Dover is within about 2 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Can you look at the flat roof of a hotel or office near Dover?
Yes, commercial buildings, hotels included, are part of the work. Roof access is agreed with the building manager or owner beforehand.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes, every report has them. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we’re not structural engineers and do not carry out calculations. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
Is Dover in your area?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, Dover included.
How long will you be at the property?
It typically takes about one to two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. You will then get the report by email.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Just say which days work for you.
The survey, step by step
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes between one and two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. For a visit in Dover, we need access to the loft, any rooms with leaks or stains, and the outside of the building. If there’s a side gate or a rear garden, let us know how to reach it. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- First you give us the address, what the roof covers and any leaks you’ve noticed.
- We look at the roof from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Every part of the roof we can see is looked at: covering, falls, upstands, outlets, trims and rooflights.
- Inside, we look for damp and staining under the roof where there’s access.
- You get a written report with photographs and our recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Arrange a survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or email us. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.