Kent · London and the South East
Upper Ifield Flat Roof Survey
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings for Upper Ifield, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Dips that suggest the deck is deflecting
- Edge trims that have lifted or split
- Leaks around rooflights
Upper Ifield questions
Do you cover smaller places like Upper Ifield?
Yes, Upper Ifield is covered. We survey roofs across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
Is my home in Upper Ifield listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain doesn’t normally stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions are not right we’ll arrange another day with you.
Can you survey a flat roof on an office or unit?
Yes. Commercial and residential flat roofs are both covered. A commercial roof typically takes about 3 to 4 hours on site, longer if it’s large or complex, with larger roofs quoted on their size.
Does a flat roof survey replace a RICS survey?
No. It is a survey of the flat roof. It is not a RICS Level 2 or 3 home survey or a structural engineer’s report. It frequently sits alongside a buyer’s building survey.
Do I need to be at home?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
How do you inspect a flat roof?
It depends on what’s safe: on the roof where it’s safe, and from windows, nearby vantage points and inside. We never walk on fragile rooflights or sheeting.
Flat roof survey in Upper Ifield
Flat roofs deal with rain in a very different way from pitched ones. Water lies on the surface for longer, so a small split or a blocked outlet can soon lead to a leak. The surface, the falls, the upstands and the trims are all looked at closely, and we note any sign that the deck below has got wet. That way, defects are found before they reach the room below. We survey mastic asphalt, single-ply membranes and GRP fibreglass, and people most often book us about edge trims that have lifted or split and pools of water lying on the roof.
In a small place like Upper Ifield, a flat roof can stand in the open, which is hard on edges, upstands and joins in the covering. Felt roofs, which often last around 15–20 years, normally show it first. Rubber and GRP last longer, though trims and joints still need a look. Exposed edges are normally the first part of a flat roof to go.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Where
- Upper Ifield (DA12)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a flat roof survey does not cover
A survey is a close look at the flat roof, but it can’t do everything. The main limits are:
- A promise that the roof will not leak in future
- Whether old sheeting or boards contain asbestos
- Parts of the roof that aren’t safe to walk on or view
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Upper Ifield
- Single-ply membranes
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
- Felt flat roofs
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
Flat roofs in Upper Ifield
Upper Ifield is within about 3 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Wind can catch loose edges and trims on a flat roof, and salt air is hard on metal trims, flashings and fixings. Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Next to the main roofs there’s typically a flat roof somewhere, whether on an extension, a garage or a commercial unit.
If you let a flat or house near Higham station, the flat roof over a let home is worth a look before it becomes a tenant complaint. Historic houses such as Cobham College, about 1.9 miles south-west, show how far back building around Upper Ifield goes. If your home is older, its flat-roofed extension or dormer may be on its second or third covering. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Shorne Church of England Primary School, ponding and blocked outlets on a wide flat roof are worth catching before the next wet season.
Upper Ifield is about 2 miles south-east of Gravesend, in Kent. Surveys in Upper Ifield work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Upper Ifield is one of the places in Kent we cover. There is also a page for Maidstone.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: DA12. Close by, we survey roofs in Shorne (1 mile east), Shorne Ridgeway (1 mile south-east), Thong (1 mile west), Chalk (1 mile north) and Higham (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (11 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (14 miles east), Dartford (9 miles west), Sevenoaks (14 miles south-west), Northfleet (3 miles north-west) and Swanley (11 miles west).
Around Upper Ifield
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Rose and Crown pub, Thamesview School and Shorne Woods Country Park and the streets around them. The closest station to Upper Ifield is Higham station, roughly 2.2 miles north-east. Nearby you will also find Gravesham Community Hospital (3.1 miles north-west) and Gravesham Museum (3 miles north-west). Not far away are Sawyers Lake and Rede Common.
Also in Upper Ifield
How the survey works
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, and more on a big or complicated roof. Somewhere like Upper Ifield needs a little journey planning: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- You let us know about the roof, its covering if you know it, and any leaks.
- We check the roof from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We check and photograph the covering, the falls, the upstands, the outlets, the trims and any rooflights.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where we can reach them.
- The findings are written up with photos and recommendations and emailed to you.
How to prepare
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Leave a clear route to the loft
How to book
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Should I look at the roof myself first?
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.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Tips that help
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Book a survey every few years
- Check that new brackets or units haven’t damaged the covering
- Keep outlets clear of leaves and moss
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
For landlords and building managers, the report is a dated record of the roof’s condition. It helps when planning maintenance budgets, and it gives a baseline to compare against next time.
Keep foot traffic on a flat roof to a minimum. If access is needed, boards or walkways help protect the covering, and to keep well clear of rooflights and fragile sheeting.
Different roofs, different checks
Felt and built-up roofs
Many extensions, garages and dormers have a felt roof laid in layers. The survey checks for blisters, cracks, open laps and bare patches where the surfacing has worn.
Single-ply membranes
Many offices, units and newer flats have a single-ply PVC or TPO roof. The survey looks at welded seams, edges, fixings and signs of damage.
Why it is worth a survey now in Upper Ifield
For a buyer, the best time to learn about a flat roof is before contracts are exchanged. Once you’ve exchanged, any work on the roof is down to you. A report gives you facts to put to the seller or agent. For an older or listed building in a place like Upper Ifield, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Upper Ifield
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Visits on any day of the week
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
Read our cost guide or two real surveys.