Kent · London and the South East
Flat roof survey in The Platt, Kent
Flat roof surveys in The Platt from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Cracked or split membrane
- Outlets choked with leaves and silt
How a flat roof survey works in The Platt
Water through a flat roof doesn’t always come in where the stain is. It can run along the deck from a split, an open lap or a failed upstand some distance away. Our survey covers the whole roof, not just the part above the mark, and photograph anything that could let water in. A roofer can then start from a clear picture of the problem. Typical surveys look at edge trims that have lifted or split and blistering in felt or asphalt, across GRP fibreglass, upstands and outlets and mastic asphalt.
Older buildings in small places like The Platt may be listed or in a conservation area, which can shape what a new flat roof may look like. Check with the council before planning any change of material. Finding out what state the roof is in gives you the facts to plan with. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent.
What you get is a clear record of the flat roof on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- The Platt (TN3)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey can’t tell you
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Fragile surfaces, which we don’t walk on
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Felt flat roofs
- Single-ply membranes
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
Nearby places to The Platt
More services for The Platt
Tips from our surveys
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Note where water lies after a downpour
- Keep outlets clear of leaves and moss
- Ask whoever fits equipment on the roof to make good the covering
- Treat rooflights and old sheeting as fragile
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer, the seller or a managing agent. It’s written in plain English, with a photo of each defect, so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Check the roof from a window after a downpour. Water still lying a day or two later is worth getting looked at.
What we look for on each type of roof
EPDM rubber
Rubber roofs can shrink back from their edges or lift where the adhesive has failed. 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.
Common roof problems in The Platt
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. In each case, the report gives a written, photographed record of the roof’s condition.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Blocked or damaged outlets
- Loose or cracked edge trims
- Splits and cracks in the covering
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near The Corn Exchange, flat roofs over shops and units are easy to forget until water comes through a ceiling.
Before you book anyone
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- What happens after the report arrives
Why act early in The Platt
Flat roofs cannot normally be seen from the street, so they’re frequently overlooked. Many owners only find out a roof is worn out when water comes through. A survey every few years stops that from catching you out. For an older or listed building in a place like The Platt, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in The Platt
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- An independent look at the roof
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Take a look at our cost guide and our case studies.
Your questions about flat roof surveys in The Platt
Does a conservation area affect roof work in The Platt?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is The Platt in the area you cover?
Yes. We work right across London and the South East, and The Platt is part of that. You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a few details.
Do you look for flat roof leaks?
We check the covering and every detail where leaks commonly start, recording anything that could let water through. Where the source isn’t obvious, a roof leak investigation or electronic leak detection may be the next step.
What does the report include?
It sets out what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, backed by photographs. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too, so you know exactly what was covered.
Is a flat roof survey the same as a building survey?
No. We look closely at the flat roof rather than the whole building. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one, and structural calculations need a structural engineer.
Is ponding on a flat roof a problem?
Water that lies on a flat roof for days is a sign that something needs attention. The cause may be the outlets, the falls or the deck. We check each of these and record what we find.
How do you inspect a flat roof?
Where it is safe, the roof is inspected from the roof itself. If not, we use safe viewpoints and look inside, and we note any area we couldn’t see. We do not walk on fragile rooflights or sheeting.
Local flat roofs in The Platt
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. Wadhurst Castle, about 3 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around The Platt. 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.
Anyone responsible for a site like Frant Church of England Primary School will know that a large flat roof with a good many outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. If you let a flat or house near Frant station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
The Platt is about 4 miles south of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. We carry out flat roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in The Platt. Across Kent, we cover The Platt. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: TN3. If you are just outside The Platt, we cover Frant (1 mile north), Mark Cross (2 miles south), Eridge Green (2 miles north-west), Town Row (3 miles south-west) and Tidebrook (3 miles south). Larger places within reach include Sevenoaks (14 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (4 miles north), Tonbridge (8 miles north), Kings Hill (14 miles north-east), Paddock Wood (8 miles north-east) and Southborough (5 miles north).
Near you in The Platt
Around The Platt, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The George Public House and Eridge Park. The closest station to The Platt is Frant station, about 1.7 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Tunbridge Wells Homeopathic Hospital (3.4 miles north) and The Corn Exchange (2.9 miles north). Open spaces near The Platt include Broadwater Warren RSPB Reserve.
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes about one to two hours at most homes, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. You are welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Older rural homes like those around The Platt 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.
- You tell us 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.
- The covering, falls, upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where we can reach them.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects we found and what we recommend.
Getting ready for the survey
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Keep pets in another room
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
How to book
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.