Kent · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Herne Bay
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings in Herne Bay, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Water getting in at rooflights
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Splits, cracks and crazing
How a flat roof survey works in Herne Bay
A Basic Survey, from £150, covers a visual inspection, a condition report, photos and written recommendations. The Standard Survey, from £250, adds moisture detection and a structural check. 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. We survey felt flat roofs, upstands and outlets and single-ply membranes, and common reasons people get in touch are cracked or split membrane and standing water left after rain.
In a town like Herne Bay, lots of shops, schools and business units have flat roofs. They’re easy to forget until water comes through a ceiling tile, and by then the insulation underneath may be wet. A survey, or electronic testing where the membrane suits it, shows what’s going on. If someone else manages the building, let us know so roof access can be arranged.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Location
- Herne Bay (CT6)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Mastic asphalt
With age, asphalt can harden and crack with movement. The report shows where it’s cracking and how far it seems to extend.
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply membranes can be damaged by foot traffic and equipment on the roof. Any tears, punctures or loose membrane are recorded with photos.
Checking the roof from ground level
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
How the survey works
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. The whole visit usually takes an hour or two for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. A visit in Herne Bay runs most smoothly with the loft hatch clear, side gates open and a parking spot in mind. If you won’t be there yourself, let us know who will let us in.
- First we go through the roof, what’s beneath it and any problems so far.
- The roof is viewed from safe positions, including the roof itself where that’s safe.
- The covering is checked for wear, splits, blisters and standing water.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Before we arrive
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Keep pets in another room
Booking a survey
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
Nearby places to Herne Bay
What else we do in Herne Bay
What happens if roof problems are left?
Flat roofs can’t typically be seen from the street, so they’re often overlooked. Owners often learn the roof is at the end of its life only when it leaks. A survey every few years stops that from catching you out. A defect spotted early can be planned and budgeted for, whereas a leak tends to force the timing on you, in Herne Bay as anywhere.
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 choose Independent Roof Survey in Herne Bay
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
See our cost guide and two real surveys.
Herne Bay: your questions answered
Do you cover Herne Bay?
Yes, Herne Bay is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Is my home in Herne Bay 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.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes, plenty. Pictures sit next to the findings they show.
How fast do I get the report?
Report times are set by the package. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. Mention any deadline when booking.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you when you book.
What do I do with the report?
You’ll receive the report by email, and you decide the next step: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.
Prices for flat roof surveys in Herne Bay
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Height and safe access
- Which survey package you book
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
To find out what your survey will cost, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Booking your survey
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- The kind of building and roof involved
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- Where the property is, with the postcode
Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
Flat roofs in Herne Bay
Herne Bay is within about 1 mile of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Coastal wind works at the edges of flat roofs, and salt air wears metal trims 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. Next to the main roofs there’s typically a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
The streets around a church such as Christ Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems normally start. For site and facilities teams at buildings like Herne Bay Junior School, schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks. For landlords with property near Herne Bay station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Herne Bay is about 7 miles north of Canterbury, in Kent. Herne Bay is one of many places we visit across Kent, for homes and businesses alike. Across Kent, we cover Herne Bay. For surveys nearby, see our Canterbury page.
We work across the CT6 postcode area for flat roof surveys. If you need a flat roof survey at a property on High Street, Viscount Square and Market Street or a nearby road, we can survey it. Main roads around Herne Bay include the A299 and B2205. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Hunters Forstal (1 mile south-east), Eddington (1 mile south-west), Broomfield (1 mile south-east), Herne (1 mile south) and Beltinge (1 mile east). Further out, we also cover Canterbury (7 miles south), Margate (11 miles east), Ramsgate (12 miles east), Broadstairs (13 miles east), Whitstable (5 miles west) and Deal (15 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Herne Bay
We work in homes and buildings around Herne Bay High School, Queen's Head Public House and Curtis Wood. The nearest railway station is Herne Bay station, about 0.7 miles west. Well-known places in the area include Tankerton Castle (4.3 miles west) and Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital (3.6 miles west). Green spaces nearby include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
Useful tips for Herne Bay property owners
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Ask contractors to protect the roof if they work on it
- Never stand on rooflights or fragile sheeting
- Note any new marks on ceilings beneath the roof
- Ask whoever fits equipment on the roof to make good the covering
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It explains the covering, its condition and every defect, and what we recommend. Turnaround is within 48 hours for a Basic Survey, 24 to 48 hours for a Standard Survey and the same day for a Premium Survey.
Try not to let a flat roof become a walkway. Where someone does need access, ask them to use boards or a protected route, and to keep well clear of rooflights and fragile sheeting.