Kent · London and the South East
Hockenden Flat Roof Survey
An experienced roof surveyor for flat roof surveys in Hockenden. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
- Splits and cracks in the covering
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Hockenden
Each type of flat roof has its own weak points. Felt can blister and crack, asphalt can craze and split, EPDM seams and laps can lift, and GRP can crack where boards meet or at the trims. On PVC and TPO single-ply roofs, we look closely at the welded laps, edges and fixings. Once you know the covering and its condition, planning the next step is far easier. If you’re worried about loose or cracked edge trims and water getting in at rooflights, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber and GRP fibreglass alike.
In a small place like Hockenden, a flat roof can stand in the open, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Older felt roofs, frequently around 15–20 years in life, show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. On an exposed roof, the edges tend to go first.
If any part of the flat roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Location
- Hockenden (BR8)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
When we arrive, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. After that, we look at everything we can see safely, from ground level, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where it applies. Most surveys take between one and two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. In a small place like Hockenden, access is typically the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- 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.
- We check the covering for splits, blisters, ponding and wear.
- We photograph and record the outlets, upstands, trims and rooflights.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Before the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Check pets are kept safely away
How to book
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
What a flat roof survey does not cover
A survey is a close look at the flat roof, but it cannot do everything. Its limits include:
- Asbestos testing, which needs a specialist asbestos surveyor
- A promise that the roof won’t leak in future
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll recommend the right survey. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Upstands and outlets
- EPDM rubber
- Mastic asphalt
- Felt flat roofs
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
Towns and villages near Hockenden
What else we do in Hockenden
What a flat roof survey looks like in Hockenden
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. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere. With Hall Place and Gardens about 3.2 miles north, Hockenden sits in an area with a long building history. 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 you live in an older home near St Mary the Virgin, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems normally start. For businesses in and around places such as Broadway Shopping Centre, a flat roof over a business is out of sight and out of mind until it leaks.
Hockenden is about 2 miles north-east of Orpington, in Kent. We carry out flat roof surveys in Hockenden for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in London.
Surveys in BR8 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We also cover the places around Hockenden: Upper Ruxley (1 mile north-west), Stonehill Green (1 mile north-east), Ruxley (1 mile north-west), Puddledock (2 miles north-east) and Hextable (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Dartford (4 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (8 miles south), Gravesend (10 miles east), Tonbridge (15 miles south), Northfleet (9 miles east) and Kings Hill (14 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Hockenden
In Hockenden, that means homes and buildings near Orchards Academy and Foots Cray Meadows. Hockenden’s nearest station is Swanley station, about 1 mile south-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include London Borough of Bromley Museum (2.6 miles south-west) and Eynsford Castle (3.4 miles south-east). The countryside around Hockenden includes The Warren and Summer Hill.
Common roof problems in Hockenden
Water that doesn’t drain sits on the roof and speeds up wear. 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.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Blocked or damaged outlets
If you let a flat or house near Swanley station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Questions to ask before booking
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- How soon the report will arrive
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Tips that help
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Watch the ceilings below the flat roof for stains
- Check new fixings through the roof are properly sealed
- Clear roof outlets and gutters each autumn
- Treat rooflights and old sheeting as fragile
If you are buying, the report gives you something specific to take back to the seller or agent. You might ask for work to be done before completion, or discuss the price, depending on what we found.
Have the roof surveyed every few years, and after any work that goes through it. You will spot changes early and have a record to look back on.
Roof by roof
Felt and built-up roofs
Many extensions, garages and dormers have a felt roof laid in layers. The survey checks for blisters, cracks, open laps and bare patches where the surfacing has worn.
Mastic asphalt
Mastic asphalt is a heavy, seamless covering often found on older blocks, balconies and commercial roofs. We look for crazing, cracks, blisters and splits at the skirtings.
Hockenden: your questions answered
Do you cover Hockenden?
Yes, Hockenden is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property.
How do I find out if my home in Hockenden is listed?
We cannot 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.
Can you find where water is getting through my flat roof?
We check the whole roof, since water can travel before it shows inside. Every split, lap, upstand, outlet and rooflight we can see is checked. Where nothing visible explains the leak, the report says what to try next.
Do you go up onto the roof?
Where it is safe, the roof is inspected from the roof itself. If not, we use safe viewpoints and look inside, and we note any area we couldn’t see. We don’t walk on fragile rooflights or sheeting.
Is ponding on a flat roof a problem?
Ponding is worth looking into. It can point to blocked outlets, poor falls or a deck that is sagging, and it wears the covering faster. Our survey notes the ponding and what seems to be causing it.
What happens after the survey?
You’ll get the report by email, with photos and clear recommendations. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Are you insured?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
Can I check my roof myself?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
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.