Kent · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Hartley, Kent
Flat roof surveys in Hartley from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and the South East.
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Upstands pulling away from walls
About our flat roof survey in Hartley
If the house you are buying has a flat roof on an extension, dormer or garage, it’s worth knowing its condition before exchange. Many felt roofs need renewing after around 15 to 20 years, and EPDM and GRP often go on for longer. Our report records the covering, how it’s holding up and any defects we can see, with photographs of each. That gives you facts to raise with the seller or agent. Common reasons to book are outlets choked with leaves and silt and edge trims that have lifted or split, on mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber and upstands and outlets.
Some older homes in villages like Hartley are listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. If you’re planning work, check with the council first. 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.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Where
- Hartley (TN17)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. After that, we look at everything we can see safely. The survey normally takes between one and two hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. Older roofs in small places like Hartley can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- You tell us about the roof, its covering if you know it, and any leaks.
- The roof is inspected from safe viewpoints, and from the roof itself where that is safe.
- The covering, falls, upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the ceilings and spaces below for signs of water.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects we found and what we recommend.
How to prepare
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Arrange a survey
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or send us an email. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Advice
Do you need a flat roof survey in Hartley?
The surface of a flat roof heats up and cools down far more than the rooms below. This constant movement works at laps, seams and board joints, and in time it can open up splits and cracks. Coverings that have hardened with age tend to suffer most.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Water getting in at rooflights
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
Anyone responsible for a site like High Weald Academy will know that large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Before booking anyone
- What happens after the report arrives
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
What we look for on each type of roof
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.
GRP fibreglass
GRP can crack if the deck beneath flexes or if the resin was laid too thin. We record any cracking and any signs of the deck moving.
What a flat roof survey looks like in Hartley
With Scotney Castle about 4.4 miles west, Hartley sits in an area with a long building history. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. 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. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere.
Hartley is about 8 miles south-east of Paddock Wood, in Kent. Hartley is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and South East England. Our Kent coverage includes Hartley and the places around it. Our Maidstone page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the TN17 postcode area for flat roof surveys. We offer flat roof surveys to properties on Hartley Road, Campion Crescent and Hartley Court Gardens. If you’re just outside Hartley, we cover Swattenden (1 mile east), Cranbrook (1 mile north-east), Baker's Cross (2 miles north-east), Gill's Green (2 miles south) and Beal's Green (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (13 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (11 miles west), Tonbridge (13 miles north-west), Kings Hill (14 miles north), Foley Park (14 miles north) and Paddock Wood (8 miles north-west).
Around Hartley
Typical jobs here are in homes near Crane Valley, among other places. Nearby you will also find Benenden Hospital (4.7 miles east) and Sissinghurst Castle (3.8 miles north-east).
What we cannot see
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
- A promise that the roof will not leak in future
- Parts of the roof that aren’t safe to walk on or view
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
- Felt flat roofs
- EPDM rubber
- Mastic asphalt
- GRP fibreglass
Your questions about flat roof surveys in Hartley
Do you carry out roof surveys in Hartley?
Yes. We work right across London and South East England, and Hartley is part of that. You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Is Hartley within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
What’s in the survey report?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, and ends with what we recommend. Points are put by urgency where it matters.
How do I arrange a flat roof survey in Hartley?
It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. Give us the address and a few details about the roof. We survey on any day of the week.
Do you survey commercial flat roofs?
Yes. We survey flat roofs on offices, shops, industrial units and blocks of flats. Larger commercial roofs are quoted for their size and access, so phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If the survey needs it and the loft space can be reached safely, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch.
What does ponding on a flat roof mean?
Standing water a day or two after rain usually needs attention. It could be the outlets, the falls or a deflecting deck. We check each of these and record what we find.
Nearby places to Hartley
Other services in Hartley
Surveys for landlords and agents in Hartley
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photographs included.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps when budgeting.
DIY checks: what’s safe
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.