Kent · London and the South East
Ruckinge Flat Roof Survey
Flat roof surveys in Ruckinge, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Pools of water lying on the roof
- Failed upstands where the roof meets a wall
- Damaged trims at the roof edge
Flat roofs in Ruckinge
What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, ideally before any re-roofing is planned. 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. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Flat roofs fill the gaps in between, on extensions, garages, dormers and business premises.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary Magdalene, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking.
Ruckinge is about 5 miles south of Ashford, in Kent. In Ruckinge, as across Kent, every roof gets the same careful survey. Ruckinge is one of the places in Kent where we work. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
All of TN26 is within our area for flat roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Oak Ridge and Hamstreet Road and the roads around them. If you’re just outside Ruckinge, we cover Hamstreet (1 mile west), Stone Cross (2 miles north), Orlestone (2 miles north-west), Bromley Green (3 miles north-west) and Kenardington (3 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (5 miles north), Folkestone (12 miles east), Hythe (8 miles east), Hawkinge (12 miles east), Tenterden (9 miles west) and Cheriton (11 miles east).
Landmarks near Ruckinge
Ruckinge’s nearest station is Ham Street station, about 1.5 miles west. Other landmarks nearby include William Harvey Hospital (5.3 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Orlestone Forest.
About our flat roof survey in Ruckinge
Our flat roof survey checks the waterproof covering and every detail around it, from edges and upstands to outlets and rooflights. We cover felt, mastic asphalt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and single-ply roofs. It suits a small roof over an extension or garage as well as a large one over flats, offices or units. The findings go into a written report with photos, setting out the defects and what we’d recommend. We survey felt flat roofs, GRP fibreglass and single-ply membranes, and people most often book us about signs of deflection in the roof deck and gaps at upstands and abutments.
In a village or hamlet like Ruckinge, flat roofs are usually on extensions, garages, outbuildings or barn conversions. They need the same care as any town roof: outlets, upstands, edges and the covering itself. The journey and access are planned beforehand. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included when booking.
If any part of the flat roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Ruckinge (TN26)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Ruckinge
Also in Ruckinge
Do you need a flat roof survey in Ruckinge?
No flat roof covering lasts for ever. Felt roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, EPDM often 30 to 50 years and GRP up to about 30, though workmanship and upkeep make a big difference. We can tell you how your roof is doing, whatever its age.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Standing water left after rain
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
For landlords with property near Ham Street station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
What to check before booking
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- What they will not be able to tell you
- When you will get the report
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
Common questions in Ruckinge
Do you cover Ruckinge?
Yes, Ruckinge is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Ruckinge?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
There’s no honest way to give an exact number of years. Typical ranges are around 15 to 20 years for felt, 30 to 50 for EPDM and up to about 30 for GRP, but your report describes the actual condition.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It can, depending on the survey. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions are not right, we will talk to you about another date.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes, every report has them. Pictures sit next to the findings they show.
Do you use drones?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where it applies.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it does not include calculations. We will recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
It’s useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
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.
What happens on the day
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit typically takes about one to two hours for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. In a hamlet or village like Ruckinge, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- First you give us the address, what the roof covers and any leaks you’ve noticed.
- The roof is inspected from safe viewpoints, and from the roof itself where that is safe.
- We check and photograph the covering, the falls, the upstands, the outlets, the trims and any rooflights.
- Inside, we look for damp and staining under the roof where there is access.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects we found and what we recommend.
How to prepare
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Getting a price
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
Different roofs, different checks
EPDM rubber
Lifting at the edges and loose areas of membrane are common EPDM problems. Any we find are noted and photographed.
Felt and built-up roofs
On felt, the upstands and edge details often fail before the main surface. We check each one and photograph any that have split or pulled away.
Tips that help
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
- Check ceilings under the roof for damp patches
- Check the outlets after the leaves fall
- Never stand on rooflights or fragile sheeting
You get the report by email and can pass it to a roofer, your solicitor, the seller or your managing agent. It is written in plain English, with a photo of each defect, so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Have the roof surveyed every few years, and after any work that goes through it. You’ll spot changes early and have a record to look back on.
What happens if roof problems are left?
If you are buying, find out about the flat roof before you exchange. After that, the cost of any work is yours. A report gives you facts to put to the seller or agent. For an older or listed building in a place like Ruckinge, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Why book us in Ruckinge
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Surveys seven days a week
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.