Kent · London and the South East
Elmstone Flat Roof Survey
Not sure what state the flat roof is in? We carry out flat roof surveys in Elmstone and across Kent, with plain-English findings.
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
Tips from our surveys
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Ask whoever fits equipment on the roof to make good the covering
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
- Limit foot traffic on the covering
- Have the roof looked at again after a severe storm
After the visit, we write up the report with photographs of what we found. It covers the type of covering, its condition and each defect, with our recommendations. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
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 to keep well clear of rooflights and fragile sheeting.
How a flat roof survey works in Elmstone
A flat roof survey looks at the covering, the edges, the outlets and the details where the roof meets walls and rooflights. We cover felt, mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and single-ply roofs. It suits a small roof over an extension or garage as well as a large one over flats, offices or units. You get a written report with photos and our recommendations. We survey EPDM rubber, mastic asphalt and upstands and outlets, and people most often book us about gaps at upstands and abutments and a sagging deck under the covering.
Older buildings in small places like Elmstone may be listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. 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. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Location
- Elmstone (CT3)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How we price flat roof surveys
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The size of the roof
- Height and safe access
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we can help you choose.
What we need to know
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- Anything about access we should know
- The property’s address and postcode
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The kind of building and roof involved
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
How the survey changes by roof type
Single-ply membranes
Plant, fixings and foot traffic can all damage a single-ply roof. Any tears, punctures or loose membrane are recorded with photos.
Felt and built-up roofs
Built-up felt is one of the most common flat roof coverings on extensions, garages and dormers. The survey checks for blisters, cracks, open laps and bare patches where the surfacing has worn.
Questions from Elmstone
Is my home in Elmstone listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you cover smaller places like Elmstone?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
What’s in the survey report?
It sets out what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, backed by photographs. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too.
Will the survey show why my flat roof is leaking?
Our survey looks across the whole roof, not only above the stain. Splits, open laps, upstands, outlets and rooflights are all checked. Where nothing visible explains the leak, the report says what to try next.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report alongside our recommendations.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we are not structural engineers and don’t carry out calculations. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
When to book a survey in Elmstone
Ponding keeps the covering wet and wears it faster. It usually comes from poor falls, a blocked outlet or a deck that has dipped. Where trees are close by, leaves and silt can block an outlet within a single autumn.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Cracked or split membrane
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
If you own a rental within reach of Minster station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- What experience they bring
What we do, step by step
You don’t need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll take it from there. The survey itself takes roughly 1–2 hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. Cottages and farmhouses around Elmstone often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We start with the address and, on larger roofs, the roof area and access.
- Inside, we look for signs of water under the roof where we can reach.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, without walking on fragile surfaces.
- We record every defect with a photo and its likely cause.
- You get a report setting out the condition and our recommendations, in order of urgency.
Preparing for the visit
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Let us know about parking before the day
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
Booking a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
Flat roofs in Elmstone
Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises. The wider area around Elmstone has a long history of building, with Goodnestone Park about 3.9 miles south. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Elmstone Church, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof. Anyone responsible for a site like Preston Primary School will know that ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Elmstone is about 7 miles south-east of Herne Bay, in Kent. Bookings from Elmstone are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Across Kent, we cover Elmstone and the places around it. Canterbury is in our area too.
All of CT3 is within our area for flat roof surveys. If you need a flat roof survey at a property on Padbrook Lane, Sheerwater Road and Longmete Road or a nearby road, we can help. Close by, we survey roofs in Hoaden (1 mile south-east), Perry (1 mile south), Nash (1 mile south), Shatterling (1 mile south) and Broomhill (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Canterbury (7 miles west), Margate (8 miles north-east), Dover (11 miles south), Folkestone (15 miles south), Ramsgate (8 miles east) and Broadstairs (9 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Elmstone
The nearest railway station is Minster station, about 3.9 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include St Martins Hospital (5.9 miles west). Open spaces near Elmstone include Monk's Wall nature reserve.