Kent · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in Smarden, Kent
We carry out flat roof surveys in Smarden and the rest of Kent. We survey seven days a week.
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
- Upstands pulling away from walls
Local flat roofs in Smarden
Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Next to the main roofs there is typically a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. If your home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission, so check with the council.
If you let a flat or house near Pluckley station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint. Anyone responsible for a site like Smarden Primary School will know that ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Smarden is about 8 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. Smarden is one of many places we visit across Kent, for homes and businesses alike. Smarden is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Flat roof surveys in TN27 are booked the same way as anywhere else. That includes homes and businesses on The Street, The Acorns and Water Lane and the roads around them. Close by, we survey roofs in Biddenden Green (1 mile north-east), Smarden Bell (1 mile north-west), Monk's Hill (1 mile south-west), Swift's Green (1 mile north-west) and Standen (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (11 miles north-west), Ashford (8 miles east), Sittingbourne (13 miles north), Faversham (14 miles north-east), Kings Hill (15 miles north-west) and Davington (14 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Smarden
We work in homes and buildings around The Chequers Inn and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Pluckley station, about 2.6 miles east. Nearby you will also find Romden Castle (1 mile east) and Benenden Hospital (5.3 miles south-west).
Flat roof survey in Smarden: what you get
Our Basic Survey, from £150, gives you a visual inspection with photographs and written recommendations. The Standard Survey, from £250, adds moisture detection and a structural check. On a flat roof, moisture readings can help show whether water has got under the covering. Larger commercial roofs are quoted for their size. Typical surveys look at failed seals around rooflight kerbs and signs of deflection in the roof deck, across mastic asphalt, felt flat roofs and EPDM rubber.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Smarden take more wind and rain, 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. Exposed edges are usually the first part of a flat roof to go.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Smarden (TN27)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Leave it or get it looked at?
A small split in a flat roof is typically a modest job when it’s found early. Left alone, water can soak the insulation and the deck, and the job grows. A survey now shows which you are dealing with. For an older or listed building in a place like Smarden, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You will know the figure before booking.
Why us?
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
Read what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Signs you need a flat roof survey in Smarden
Flat roofs frequently get walked on for other jobs: cleaning windows, fitting aerials or air conditioning, or clearing gutters. Each visit can damage a covering not made for regular foot traffic. New brackets and fixings through the roof are another common source of leaks.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- A sagging deck under the covering
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Gaps at upstands and abutments
If you live in an older home near Church of St Michael, any flat roof added at the back or on a dormer is likely to be far younger, and less durable, than the main roof.
Questions to ask before booking
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Places near Smarden
More services for Smarden
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
When you need someone else
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
- A promise that the roof will not leak in future
- Asbestos testing, which needs a specialist asbestos surveyor
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- EPDM rubber
- Felt flat roofs
- GRP fibreglass
- Single-ply membranes
What we look for on each type of roof
Felt and built-up roofs
The edges and upstands of a felt roof are usually where trouble starts. We check each one and photograph any that have split or pulled away.
Mastic asphalt
With age, asphalt can harden and crack with movement. We note where this is happening and how widespread it looks.
Questions from Smarden
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Smarden?
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 cover smaller places like Smarden?
Yes, Smarden is covered. We survey roofs across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
What types of flat roof do you survey?
We cover the main flat roof coverings: felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply. We record what the covering is and how it’s holding up.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report.
What does ponding on a flat roof mean?
Standing water on a flat roof deserves a closer look. It can point to blocked outlets, poor falls or a deck that is sagging, and water that sits wears the covering sooner. We record where it sits and the likely cause.
How do you inspect a flat roof?
We inspect from wherever is safe: the roof itself where that is safe, plus windows, vantage points and the rooms below. Fragile rooflights and fragile sheets are never walked on.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
How the survey works
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, and longer for a large or complex roof. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Older roofs in small places like Smarden can have low, tight loft spaces, so it is useful to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You let us know about the roof, its covering if you know it, and any leaks.
- The roof is inspected from safe viewpoints, and from the roof itself where that’s safe.
- Every part of the roof we can see is checked: covering, falls, upstands, outlets, trims and rooflights.
- Inside, we look for damp and staining under the roof where there is access.
- You get a report with photographs and our recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Getting a price
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or email us. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.