Kent · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Hicks Forstal, Kent
Find out the condition of the flat roof at your property in Hicks Forstal from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
How the survey works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, take photographs as we go and record our findings for the written report. It usually takes an hour or two for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. For a village or hamlet like Hicks Forstal, the journey is planned in advance: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- First we go through the roof, what’s beneath it and any problems so far.
- We look at the roof from the ground, windows and the roof where it’s safe.
- The covering is checked for wear, splits, blisters and standing water.
- We photograph and record the outlets, upstands, trims and rooflights.
- A written report with photos and recommendations is emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
How to book
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or email us, let us know about the property and we will explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Related advice
Flat roof survey in Hicks Forstal
If the house you’re 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 is holding up and any defects we can see, with a photo of every defect. You then have something specific to put to the seller or agent. If you’ve noticed signs of deflection in the roof deck and damaged trims at the roof edge, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like Hicks Forstal, flat roofs are typically on extensions, garages, outbuildings or barn conversions. They need the same care as any town roof: the covering, the edges, the upstands and where water drains away. The journey and access are planned beforehand. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included when you book.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Where
- Hicks Forstal (CT3)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlord and commercial surveys in Hicks Forstal
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.
Different roofs, different checks
Mastic asphalt
Asphalt roofs are common on older flats, walkways and commercial buildings. We look for crazing, cracks, blisters and splits at the skirtings.
Rooflights and upstands
We do not walk on rooflights or fragile sheeting, and we treat older rooflights as fragile. They’re inspected from safe positions and recorded with photos.
What this survey cannot tell you
It is a careful look at the flat roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Hidden layers beneath the covering
- Testing older roof sheets for asbestos
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
What we check
- Mastic asphalt
- Single-ply membranes
- Upstands and outlets
- Felt flat roofs
- GRP fibreglass
- EPDM rubber
Should I look at the roof myself first?
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That is where a survey comes in.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Flat and commercial roofs around Hicks Forstal
Hicks Forstal lies within about 3 miles of the sea, so there’s 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. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
Anyone responsible for a site like Spires Academy will know that ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season. Landlords with a home close to Sturry station may find that the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Hicks Forstal is about 2 miles south of Herne Bay, in Kent. Anywhere in Hicks Forstal, we can come and survey your property. Our Kent coverage includes Hicks Forstal.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: CT3. Close by, we survey roofs in Calcott (1 mile south-west), Herne Common (1 mile north), Knave's Ash (1 mile east), Herne (1 mile north) and Bullockstone (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (4 miles south-west), Margate (12 miles east), Dover (15 miles south-east), Ramsgate (12 miles east), Broadstairs (13 miles east) and Whitstable (4 miles west).
Near you in Hicks Forstal
Typical jobs here are in homes near Curtis Wood and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Sturry station, about 2.2 miles south. A little further out are St Martins Hospital (3.9 miles south) and Canterbury Castle (4.6 miles south-west). Open spaces near Hicks Forstal include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
Why get it checked now?
Ponding seldom gets better on its own. Most frequently it means blocked outlets, poor falls or a deck that is dipping, and each wet season wears the covering further. Finding the cause now keeps more options open. Older cottages and farmhouses around Hicks Forstal can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What you get with us
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- A written report with photos
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
Read what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Also near Hicks Forstal
What else we do in Hicks Forstal
Hicks Forstal questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hicks Forstal?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you cover smaller places like Hicks Forstal?
Yes. Hicks Forstal is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
How quickly is the report sent?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. Each one is emailed, ready to forward.
Can you tell me how long my flat roof will last?
There’s no honest way to give an exact number of years. As a guide, felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, EPDM often 30 to 50 and GRP up to about 30, but your report describes the actual condition.
Which flat roof coverings do you cover?
We cover the main flat roof coverings: felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply. The report names the covering and explains its condition.
Is ponding on a flat roof a problem?
Ponding is worth looking into. It frequently means a blocked outlet, poor falls or a dipping deck, and it wears the covering faster. Our survey notes the ponding and what seems to be causing it.
Can you find where water is getting through my flat roof?
Our survey looks across the whole roof, not only above the stain. Every split, lap, upstand, outlet and rooflight we can see is looked at. If the cause can’t be seen, we will say so and suggest what would help.