Kent · London and the South East
Flat Roof Survey in Ratling
Flat roof surveys in Ratling and the rest of Kent. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Outlets that hold water back
- Standing water left after rain
- Splits, cracks and crazing
Flat roof survey in Ratling
Many commercial buildings and blocks of flats have big flat roofs. A survey of a roof this size picks out worn covering, standing water and outlets that need attention. We record the condition with photographs so work can be planned and budgeted. We quote commercial roofs on their size and how they’re reached, so it helps if you phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a rough idea of the roof area. We survey mastic asphalt, felt flat roofs and single-ply membranes, and the problems we are asked to look at most are splits, cracks and crazing and blisters and bubbles in the covering.
In a small place like Ratling, a flat roof can stand in the open, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Older felt roofs, often around 15–20 years in life, show it first. EPDM rubber and GRP coverings last longer, but their edges and joints still need checking. Exposed edges are typically the first part of a flat roof to go.
If any part of the flat roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Ratling (CT3)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photographs, emailed to you. On timing, it usually takes about one to two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. Older rural homes like those around Ratling can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We agree the roof to be surveyed, its use and any leaks you know about.
- We look at the roof from ground level, windows and the roof where it is safe.
- We check the covering for splits, blisters, ponding and wear.
- We photograph and record the outlets, upstands, trims and rooflights.
- A written report with photos and recommendations is emailed to you.
How to prepare
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Book a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before booking.
Advice
Common questions in Ratling
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Ratling?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Ratling?
Yes, Ratling is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How many years has my flat roof got left?
We don’t put a figure on it. Typical ranges are around 15 to 20 years for felt, 30 to 50 for EPDM and up to about 30 for GRP, but the report tells you how your roof is really doing.
What does the report include?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, with photographs throughout. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too, so you know exactly what was covered.
Do you survey commercial flat roofs?
Yes. We survey flat roofs on commercial buildings as well as homes. Expect about 3 to 4 hours on site for most commercial roofs, and larger roofs are quoted for their size.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain does not usually stop a survey. High wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we’ll arrange another day with you.
How much does a flat roof survey cost in Ratling?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run seven days a week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Why act early in Ratling
Ponding seldom gets better on its own. It normally points to an outlet, the falls or a sagging deck, and each wet season wears the covering further. Knowing the cause early gives you more choice over what to do. For older village homes like those around Ratling, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
All our prices include VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
Why us?
- PI and public liability insurance
- Prices that include VAT
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
See what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Tips that help
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Check the outlets after the leaves fall
- Keep people off the roof unless they need to be there
- Keep clear of rooflights and fragile roof sheets
- Check ceilings under the roof for damp patches
Questions about the findings are always welcome. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one, so you can talk the findings through.
Book a survey every few years, and again after new fixings, units or rooflights go in. That catches changes early and builds up a record of the roof.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Flat roofs in Ratling
Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Next to the main roofs there is usually a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit. The wider area around Ratling has a long history of building, with Goodnestone Park about 1 mile north-east. 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.
Take a building like St Joseph's Catholic Primary School: schools and public buildings often have big flat roofs, and their outlets and upstands need regular checks. For landlords with property near Adisham station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
Ratling is about 6 miles south-east of Canterbury, in Kent. Whether the building in Ratling is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. Across Kent, we cover Ratling. Canterbury is in our area too.
We survey roofs across the CT3 postcode area for flat roof surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for flat roof surveys include Nonington (1 mile south-east), Snowdown (1 mile south), Goodnestone (1 mile north-east), Chillenden (2 miles east) and Woolage Village (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (6 miles north-west), Margate (13 miles north-east), Dover (8 miles south-east), Folkestone (11 miles south), Ramsgate (11 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (13 miles north-east).
Around Ratling
The closest station to Ratling is Adisham station, about 0.5 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include St Martins Hospital (5.2 miles north-west).
Places near Ratling
More services for Ratling
Signs you need a flat roof survey in Ratling
A buyer’s general survey often recommends a closer look at a flat roof. Owners and managing agents use a survey to plan upkeep, or ahead of a sale or a new lease. Either way, you get a clear record of the roof, with photos.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Outlets that hold water back
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Splits and cracks in the covering
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
The streets around a church such as St Peter are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, the flat roofs on later extensions tend to wear out long before the main roof.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Which limits apply to the survey