Medway · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Grain
Flat roof surveys in Grain from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
How a flat roof survey works in Grain
Each flat roof is looked at from the safest viewpoints we have: from the roof itself where that’s 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. We’re often asked to look into dips that suggest the deck is deflecting and splits, cracks and crazing, across upstands and outlets, mastic asphalt and felt flat roofs.
In a village or hamlet like Grain, flat roofs are normally on extensions, garages, outbuildings or barn conversions. The checks are the same as anywhere: outlets, upstands, edges and the covering itself. The journey and access are planned beforehand. If there are outbuildings or garages with flat roofs, mention them when booking.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Grain (ME3)
- Wider area
- Medway
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. All told, expect roughly 1–2 hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. Around Grain, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- 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.
- We view the roof from safe positions and never walk 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.
Before we arrive
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Book a survey
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
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Nearby places to Grain
What else we do in Grain
Honest limits
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Bear these in mind:
- Parts of the roof that are not safe to walk on or view
- A fixed date for when the roof will need replacing
- What’s under the membrane without opening it up
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will point you to the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- EPDM rubber
- Felt flat roofs
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
What a survey costs
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Height and safe access
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, from £400 with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
What we need to know
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or email us. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Flat and commercial roofs around Grain
The coast is about 1 mile or less from Grain, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further 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. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are lots of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.
If you live in an older home near Church of St James, later flat-roofed additions are common on older houses, and their edges and upstands often show the first signs of wear. If you look after a building such as St James Church of England Primary Academy, a large flat roof with plenty of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. If you let a flat or house near Sheerness-On-Sea station, flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies.
Grain is about 5 miles north-west of Minster, in Medway. Grain is part of the area we cover as part of our work across London and South East England. Grain is one of the towns and villages in Medway we cover. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Surveys in ME3 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include High Street, Power Station Road and Chapel Road, and we cover them all. Nearby, we also carry out flat roof surveys in Wallend (1 mile west), Blue Town (2 miles south-east), Sheerness (2 miles south-east), Queenborough (3 miles south-east) and Rushenden (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Gillingham (8 miles south-west), Chatham (10 miles south-west), Rochester (10 miles south-west), Rainham (8 miles south-west), Strood (11 miles south-west) and Luton (10 miles south-west).
Around Grain
We work in homes and buildings around The Hogarth Inn, among other places. Grain’s nearest station is Sheerness-On-Sea station, about 2.1 miles south-east of the centre. A little further out are Bluetown Heritage Centre (1.8 miles south-east).
How the survey changes by roof type
Felt and built-up roofs
Built-up felt is one of the most common flat roof coverings on extensions, garages and dormers. We look for blistering, cracking, split laps and worn mineral surfacing.
GRP fibreglass
Movement in the deck or a thin layer of resin can lead to cracks in GRP. Our report notes cracks and any sign that the deck is flexing.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Tips that help
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Treat rooflights and old sheeting as fragile
- Ask whoever fits equipment on the roof to make good the covering
- Look for standing water a day after rain
- Note any new marks on ceilings beneath the roof
Buyers can take the findings back to the seller or the agent. You might ask for work to be done before completion, or discuss the price, depending on the findings.
Book a survey every few years, and again after new fixings, units or rooflights go in. You’ll spot changes early and have a record to look back on.
FAQs for Grain
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Grain?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Is my home in Grain listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t 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 need to get into the loft?
Where it is relevant to the survey and there is safe access, yes. A clear path to the hatch helps, and if the loft can’t be reached safely, the report says so.
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. Where nothing visible explains the leak, the report says what to try next.
How much is a survey?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose, confirmed before anything is booked.
How many years has my flat roof got left?
We do not give a fixed number of years, because it depends on upkeep, weather and how the roof was laid. Our report describes the condition and what needs doing, and when.
Can you test old roof sheets for asbestos?
Asbestos testing isn’t part of our survey. Where a roof has materials that might contain asbestos, such as old cement sheeting, the report flags them so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check them.