Kent · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Cotman's Ash, Kent
Gutter surveys in Cotman's Ash and the rest of Kent. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Dripping or leaking gutter joints
- Rotten fascias or stained soffits
- Water spilling over the gutter edge
Gutter surveys for homes and businesses in Cotman's Ash
Damp on walls, water marks under a valley or streaks down the brickwork can often be traced to the gutters. Our gutter survey helps show whether the rainwater system is the cause, as far as can be seen safely. If the evidence points elsewhere, such as a flashing or the roof covering, we’ll say so, with a suggested next step. If you’re worried about overflowing valley or parapet gutters and fascia boards damaged by overflowing water, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like Cotman's Ash, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it is normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Place
- Cotman's Ash (TN15)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Confirming asbestos in older rainwater goods
- Damage hidden inside walls or behind boards
- Parts of gutters that can’t be seen safely
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we will suggest the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Cotman's Ash
- Eaves gutters
- Valley gutters
- Outlets and hoppers
- Downpipes
- Parapet and box gutters
- Fascias and soffits
Local roofs in Cotman's Ash
Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. The wider area around Cotman's Ash has a long history of building, with Lullingstone Castle about 3.4 miles north-west. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you own a rental within reach of Kemsing station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. If you live near a park such as Kemsing Down, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Cotman's Ash is about 3 miles north-east of Sevenoaks, in Kent. We visit Cotman's Ash as part of our work across Kent, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Cotman's Ash is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work for gutter surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
Here we cover the TN15 postcode area for gutter surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for gutter surveys include Woodlands (1 mile north-east), Heaverham (1 mile south-east), Knatts Valley (1 mile north), Romney Street (1 mile north-west) and Kemsing (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles east), Dartford (9 miles north), Sevenoaks (3 miles south-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (13 miles south), Gravesend (10 miles north-east) and Tonbridge (8 miles south).
Local landmarks in Cotman's Ash
Around Cotman's Ash, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Rising Sun pub and Kemsing Down, among other places. The nearest railway station is Kemsing station, about 1.4 miles south of the centre. A little further out are Kemsing Castle Bank (0.9 miles south-west) and Sevenoaks Hospital (2.8 miles south-west). For a walk, there’s Dryhill Nature Reserve.
Useful tips for Cotman's Ash property owners
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Keep climbers away from the eaves
- Check from ground level or a window, not a ladder
- Have gutters cleared at least once a year
- Look for downpipes coming loose
How quickly the report arrives depends on the package: within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium. We email it to you once it’s done.
Have your gutters cleared at least once a year or more frequently near trees. The best time is typically after the leaves have dropped. Clean gutters can do their job.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Cotman's Ash
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed ahead of time. We survey seven days a week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
What we do, step by step
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take about one to two hours at a house, depending on how many gutter runs and downpipes there are. Older roofs in small places like Cotman's Ash can have low, tight loft spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You tell us where you’ve seen overflows, drips or damp.
- The eaves gutters, downpipes and fascias are looked at from ground level and windows.
- Valleys, parapets and box gutters are inspected where they can be seen safely.
- Where it’s safe, we check the loft for signs of water.
- A photo-illustrated written report and recommendations follows.
Getting ready for the survey
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
How to book
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before you book.
Read more
Different roofs, different checks
Fascias and soffits
Some older soffits may contain asbestos. Any we think could be are flagged for a specialist asbestos surveyor to check.
Cast iron gutters
Cast iron tends to fail at the joints and fixings. We note corrosion, cracks and leaking joints as far as we can see them.
Do you need a gutter survey in Cotman's Ash?
Many people get in touch after seeing water pour over a gutter in heavy rain. Others notice a damp wall, a stained ceiling or a green streak down the brickwork. The survey helps pin down the source before more damage is done.
We are frequently asked to look at:
- Sagging gutters and loose brackets
- Blocked outlets and hoppers
- Soffits marked by water
- Water backing up from a hidden gutter
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Before you book anyone
- When you’ll get the report
- What follow-up you get after the report
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
Towns and villages near Cotman's Ash
More services for Cotman's Ash
Your questions about gutter surveys in Cotman's Ash
Do you cover smaller places like Cotman's Ash?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Is my home in Cotman's Ash listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we do not carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
How soon will 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.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We inspect whatever is safely visible: from ground level, from windows, from inside the loft space, from the roof where it’s safe and by drone where it applies. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Do you survey at weekends?
Yes. We survey on weekdays and at weekends. To find a day that suits, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We check the roof, not the whole building, so it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.