Kent · London and the South East
Southernden Flat Roof Survey
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Southernden. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Water getting in at rooflights
- Ponding water that does not drain away
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
Signs you need a flat roof survey in Southernden
The surface of a flat roof heats up and cools down far more than the rooms below. This constant movement works at laps, seams and board joints, which can open splits and cracks over the years. Older coverings that have lost their flexibility are the most likely to suffer.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
- Blisters and bubbles in the covering
- Cracked or split membrane
Landlords with a home close to Headcorn station may find that the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint.
What to check before booking
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Are they insured for the work?
- When you’ll get the report
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
How a flat roof survey works in Southernden
A flat roof leak often travels before it shows on the ceiling. It may start at a split, a lifted seam or a failed upstand well away from the damp patch. That is why we check every detail across the roof, not only the area above the stain, with photos of anything that could be letting water in. Whoever carries out the work then has a clear starting point. We survey GRP fibreglass, upstands and outlets and mastic asphalt, and common reasons people get in touch are failed upstands where the roof meets a wall and damaged trims at the roof edge.
Flat roofs on exposed homes in small places like Southernden take more wind and rain, so edges, upstands and laps take a beating. 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 normally the first part of a flat roof to go.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Location
- Southernden (TN27)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take about one to two hours for an extension, garage or dormer roof, and around 3–4 hours for a commercial flat roof. In a small place like Southernden, 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.
- We start with the address and, on larger roofs, the roof area and access.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where there’s access.
- The roof is inspected from every safe viewpoint, without walking on fragile surfaces.
- Each defect is photographed and its likely cause noted.
- You get a report setting out the condition and our recommendations, in order of urgency.
Before we arrive
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
Booking a survey
We confirm the price for your survey before you book, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
What a flat roof survey looks like in Southernden
About 4.8 miles north lies Leeds Castle, a reminder of how long the area around Southernden has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. 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. Flat roofs on extensions, dormers, garages and business units are found alongside them almost everywhere.
Southernden is about 8 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. In Southernden, as across Kent, every roof gets the same careful survey. We cover towns and villages across Kent. There is also a page for Maidstone.
We survey roofs across the TN27 postcode area for flat roof surveys and the streets around it. We also cover the places around Southernden: Swift's Green (1 mile south), Smarden Bell (2 miles south), Headcorn (2 miles south-west), Hearnden Green (2 miles west) and Biddenden Green (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Maidstone (8 miles north-west), Ashford (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (11 miles north), Faversham (13 miles north-east), Kings Hill (13 miles north-west) and Davington (13 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Southernden
The nearest railway station is Headcorn station, about 2.1 miles south-west of the centre. Nearby you will also find Coldbridge Castle (1.7 miles north-east) and Kent Firefighting Museum (3.8 miles south-west).
Your questions about flat roof surveys in Southernden
Do you cover smaller places like Southernden?
Yes. Southernden is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Southernden?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it’s applicable. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
What does a roof survey cost?
Flat roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the exact price before booking, and it depends on the roof’s size, access and the package you choose. To get a price, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers. We’ll recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
How do I book a survey in Southernden?
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what you want to find out. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Tips that help
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Ask whoever fits equipment on the roof to make good the covering
- Note any new marks on ceilings beneath the roof
- Note where water lies after a downpour
- Book a survey every few years
You get the report by email and can pass it to a roofer, your solicitor, the seller or your managing agent. It’s written in plain English, with a photograph of each defect, so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Get splits, lifted seams and loose trims seen to while they’re small. Prompt repairs tend to add years to a flat roof.
Places near Southernden
More services for Southernden
Leave it or get it looked at?
For a buyer, the best time to learn about a flat roof is before contracts are exchanged. After that, the cost of any work is yours. A report gives you facts to put to the seller or agent. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Southernden, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Prices start from £150, including VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both with VAT included. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
Why book us in Southernden
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Prices that include VAT
- Over 20 years’ experience
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
Read how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Honest limits
A survey is a careful look at the flat roof, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- A structural engineer’s assessment of the deck
- Parts of the roof that are not safe to walk on or view
- A fixed date for when the roof will need replacing
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll recommend the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Single-ply membranes
- Mastic asphalt
- Felt flat roofs
- GRP fibreglass
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Landlords, agents and building managers in Southernden and across Kent can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the visit with that in mind.