Kent · London and the South East
Shorne Flat Roof Survey
An experienced roof surveyor for flat roof surveys in Shorne. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Upstands pulling away from walls
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Never stand on rooflights or fragile sheeting
- Note any new marks on ceilings beneath the roof
- Clear roof outlets and gutters each autumn
- Keep people off the roof unless they need to be there
You can use the report to ask roofers to quote for the same work. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare. You stay in control of who does the work and when.
Check the roof from a window after a downpour. If water is still there a day or two later, have it checked.
About our flat roof survey in Shorne
Flat roofs deal with rain in a very different way from pitched ones. Because rain sits on it for longer, a small split, an open seam or a blocked outlet matters more. We check the surface, the falls, the upstands and the edge trims, and we look for signs that water has reached the deck. That way, defects are found before they reach the room below. If you’ve noticed outlets that hold water back and signs of deflection in the roof deck, we can find out what’s behind it.
Older buildings in small places like Shorne may be listed or in a conservation area, and that can affect how an extension roof or dormer is re-covered. If you are planning work, check with the council first. Finding out what state the roof is in gives you the facts to plan with. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest.
After the visit, you get a report with photographs, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the flat roof, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Shorne (DA12)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from Shorne
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Shorne, take more of a battering?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it typically shows.
Will you come out to Shorne?
Yes, Shorne is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
How long is the visit?
Most surveys take an hour or two for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. The report follows by email.
How soon will I get the report?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. All of them come by email, ready to forward.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
What does ponding on a flat roof mean?
Standing water on a flat roof deserves a closer look. It often means a blocked outlet, poor falls or a dipping deck, and water that sits wears the covering sooner. Our survey notes the ponding and what seems to be causing it.
Does someone need to be in?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access when booking.
How we price flat roof surveys
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- The roof’s overall size
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both with VAT included. We confirm the price for the job before you book.
What to let us know when you get in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- The address and postcode of the property
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to phone 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
What we look for on each type of roof
Single-ply membranes
Single-ply membranes can be damaged by foot traffic and equipment on the roof. We note any punctures, tears and loose areas we can see.
GRP fibreglass
GRP can crack if the deck beneath flexes or if the resin was laid too thin. We record any cracking and any signs of the deck moving.
What we are asked to look at in Shorne
Water that doesn’t drain sits on the roof and speeds up wear. Blocked outlets, poor falls and a sagging deck are the usual causes. Leaves and silt from nearby trees can soon choke an outlet.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Outlets that hold water back
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Shorne Church of England Primary School, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
What to check before booking
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Flat roof surveys around Shorne
Shorne lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. On a flat roof near the sea, edge trims and upstands take the brunt of the wind, and metal parts corrode faster. Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Mixed in with those pitched roofs are plenty of flat ones, over rear extensions, dormers, garages and shops.
Cobham College lies about 2.3 miles south-west, so building around Shorne goes back a long way. On a period home nearby, any flat roof is likely to be a later addition with its own lifespan. If you live in an older home near Church of St Peter and St Paul, the joins between later flat roofs and the old walls are where problems usually start.
Shorne is about 2 miles south-east of Gravesend, in Kent. We survey roofs in Shorne and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Shorne is one of the places in Kent we cover for flat roof surveys. Our Maidstone page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the DA12 postcode area for flat roof surveys. Local streets include The Street, Cob Drive and Crown Green, and we cover them all. Other places close to Shorne include Upper Ifield (1 mile west), Shorne Ridgeway (1 mile south), Higham (1 mile east), Thong (1 mile west) and Gadshill (1 mile east). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (11 miles south), Sittingbourne (14 miles east), Dartford (9 miles west), Sevenoaks (14 miles south-west), Northfleet (4 miles west) and Swanley (11 miles west).
Local landmarks in Shorne
In Shorne, that means homes and buildings near The Rose and Crown pub, Shorne Woods Country Park and Thamesview School. The closest station to Shorne is Higham station, roughly 1.7 miles north-east. Nearby you will also find Gravesham Museum (3.2 miles north-west) and Gravesham Community Hospital (3.4 miles north-west). Open spaces near Shorne include Rede Common and Gad's Hill.
How the survey works
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. The whole visit usually takes about 1–2 hours for a small flat roof at home, and longer for a large commercial one. In a small place like Shorne, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We start with the details: the address, the roof’s use and any leaks or stains.
- We check the roof from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Every part of the roof we can see is looked at: covering, falls, upstands, outlets, trims and 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
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Book a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
What we cannot see
A survey is a close look at the flat roof, but it can’t do everything. The main limits are:
- The condition of the deck or insulation hidden under the covering
- Asbestos testing, which needs a specialist asbestos surveyor
- Structural calculations, which need a structural engineer
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will point you to the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Felt flat roofs
- Mastic asphalt
- Upstands and outlets
- Single-ply membranes
- GRP fibreglass
- EPDM rubber