Kent · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Benenden, Kent
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes for Benenden and the rest of Kent. We survey on any day of the week.
- Water backing up from a hidden gutter
- Sagging gutters and loose brackets
- Gutters full of debris and silt
Gutter surveys for homes and businesses in Benenden
Most gutters hang from the fascia boards at the eaves, so fascias and soffits are part of the survey. Water that overflows for long enough can rot timber fascias and stain the soffits below. Older buildings, from before 2000, can have asbestos cement soffits, gutters or downpipes. We do not test for asbestos, but we flag anything that could contain it. Typical surveys look at brackets that have dropped or snapped and gutters packed with leaves or moss, on downpipes, valley gutters and parapet and box gutters.
Somewhere as small as Benenden, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
The Standard Survey adds 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
- Benenden (TN17)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from the ground
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Also near Benenden
Also in Benenden
What affects the cost of gutter surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Basic, Standard or Premium
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
Booking your survey
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- What’s prompted the survey
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Where the property is, with the postcode
To get a price for gutter surveys in Benenden, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us price the survey accurately.
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Look out for overflows when it pours
- Ask for valleys and parapet gutters to be cleared too
- Check that downpipes are firmly fixed to the wall
- Check from ground level or a window, not a ladder
You receive a report with photos and clear written recommendations. Share it with a contractor of your choice so they know what needs doing.
Look at the gutters from indoors or the ground when it pours. Water spilling over the edge or out of a joint is a sign that something needs attention before damage builds up.
How it works
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. You’re welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Somewhere as small as Benenden, access is often the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- First, you let us know what you’ve seen, such as overflows or damp.
- We look along the gutters, downpipes and fascias from ground level and from windows.
- Valley, parapet and box gutters are inspected as far as they can safely be seen.
- Where the loft can be reached safely, we check it for staining or damp.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
Book a survey
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Why act early in Benenden
It is easy to put damp down to the wrong cause. If a leaking gutter or downpipe is the source, other work on the wall won’t stop it. Checking the gutters first helps you spend in the right place. Around Benenden, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Gutter survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Why us?
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Every finding written up with photos
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Read our cost guide or our case studies.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Benenden
Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. Historic houses such as Great Dixter, about 5 miles south, show how far back building in the area around Benenden goes. On older houses around here, roofs often 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.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St George, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. Take a building like Benenden Church of England Primary School: its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Benenden is about 13 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. We carry out gutter surveys in Benenden for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Maidstone is in our area too.
We survey roofs across the TN17 postcode area for gutter surveys. Streets in the area include The Street, Hortons Close and Iden Green Road. You will find Benenden on the B2086, so it’s easy for us to get to. We also cover the places around Benenden: Iden Green (1 mile south), Coursehorn (2 miles north-west), Baker's Cross (2 miles north-west), Swattenden (2 miles north-west) and Cranbrook (3 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (14 miles north), Ashford (13 miles east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles west), Foley Park (15 miles north), Paddock Wood (11 miles north-west) and Tenterden (5 miles east).
Local landmarks in Benenden
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to King William IV Public House and the streets around them. Other landmarks nearby include Mervyn Quinlan Museum (2 miles north-east) and Sissinghurst Castle (3.2 miles north).
Landlord and commercial surveys in Benenden
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed in advance. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
Benenden: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Benenden?
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.
Do you cover Benenden?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes, plenty. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible.
Does the season matter for a gutter survey?
Whenever suits you. If you’ve already seen a gutter overflowing, it is best not to wait as overflowing water can damage walls.
Will you check if gutters are causing damp inside?
Overflowing gutters often lead to damp walls, and the survey looks for that. If the cause looks like something else, the report says so as far as we can tell from what’s visible.
How fast do I get the report?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. Each one is emailed, ready to forward.
Will you check the loft?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement, as far as the space allows.