Kent · London and the South East
Gutter Survey in Cowden
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes across Cowden, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Overflowing eaves gutters
- Blocked outlets and hoppers
- Joints that drip after rain
Gutter survey in Cowden
Eaves gutters at the front of a building are easy to spot but lots of gutters are tucked away. Valley gutters between slopes, gutters behind parapet walls and box or secret gutters can send water indoors when they overflow. We look at them as far as they can be seen safely, from the ground, from windows, from the loft space and from the roof where it is safe. Many leaks indoors start at a hidden gutter. If you’ve noticed rotten fascias or stained soffits and gutters packed with leaves or moss, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Somewhere as small as Cowden, 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 report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Where
- Cowden (TN8)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlords, agents and block managers in Cowden
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the survey around it.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
What you can safely check yourself
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Nearby places to Cowden
What else we do in Cowden
Common questions in Cowden
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Cowden?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Cowden station?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
How much is a gutter survey?
The Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard from £250 and the Premium from £400, all including VAT. For a price for your building, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Can you tell me if my old gutters contain asbestos?
No, that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor. On buildings from before 2000, we flag materials that could contain it so you can arrange that check.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access; we will agree the details when booking.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
What does the report include?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos. Points are put by urgency where it matters.
Honest limits
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Asbestos testing of old gutters, downpipes or soffits
- Hidden sections we can’t view safely
- Blockages deep inside downpipes
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Cowden
- Outlets and hoppers
- Fascias and soffits
- Parapet and box gutters
- Downpipes
- Eaves gutters
- Valley gutters
How it works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photographs, emailed to you. As for time on site, it typically takes roughly 1–2 hours for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. Somewhere as small as Cowden, 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, we agree the areas to focus on.
- We look along each run for debris, sagging and drips.
- Outlets, hoppers, downpipes and overflows are inspected.
- We check fascias, soffits and walls for water damage.
- You get photos and written recommendations, prioritised where relevant.
How to prepare
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Arrange a survey
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Advice
Before and after the survey
You do not need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Get the gutters cleaned out every year
- Watch the gutters during heavy rain
- Watch ceilings under valley gutters for fresh marks
- Look for green streaks or damp patches on walls
Landlords and managing agents can keep the report with the building’s records to help plan maintenance. The photos help when you explain the work to others.
Hidden gutters need clearing too. They block in the same way as the gutters you can see but you can’t check them from the street, so ask for them to be included when gutters are cleared.
What we are asked to look at in Cowden
Most gutter joints rely on seals or sealant that wear out. Plastic gutters move with heat and cold, and in time their joints can drip. On cast iron, joints can rust and open up once the paint has worn away.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Fascia boards damaged by overflowing water
- Cracked or loose downpipes
- Gutters that have fallen out of line
- Joints that drip after rain
For landlords with property near Cowden station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
Cowden homes and their roofs
Historic houses such as Bassetts Manor, about 1.7 miles south, show how far back building in the area around Cowden goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs. 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. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Mary Magdalene, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Cowden is about 5 miles east of East Grinstead, in Kent. We survey roofs in Cowden and the rest of Kent. Cowden is one of the places in Kent where we work for gutter surveys. You can also see our page for Crawley.
Surveys in TN8 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a gutter survey at a property on High Street, Church Street and Chantlers Mead or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Cowden: Stick Hill (2 miles north), Hammerwood (2 miles west), Marsh Green (3 miles north-west), Ashurst Wood (4 miles south-west) and Dormansland (4 miles west). Larger places within reach include Sevenoaks (10 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (8 miles east), Tonbridge (9 miles north-east), Paddock Wood (13 miles east), Southborough (7 miles east) and Edenbridge (4 miles north).
Landmarks near Cowden
Around Cowden, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Crown Inn, among other places. The closest station to Cowden is Cowden station, about 1 mile north-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Queen Victoria Hospital (4 miles west) and Bolebroke Castle (1.8 miles south).