Kent · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Hockenden, Kent
Gutter surveys across Hockenden, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Brackets that have dropped or snapped
- Leaves and moss blocking gutters
- Soffits marked by water
How a gutter survey works in Hockenden
Most blocked gutters are full of leaves, moss or silt. Buildings near trees collect more, and moss washing off a tiled or slate roof adds to it. Our survey shows which gutters are blocked or standing full, which outlets and hoppers are choked and whether any overflows are doing their job. Photos show each problem clearly. It is an easy job to put off but it rarely improves. If you’ve noticed gutters overflowing in heavy rain and valley or box gutters that overflow inside, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Older buildings in small places like Hockenden may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials like clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Where
- Hockenden (BR8)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the cost of gutter surveys
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- House, block, shop or office
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The size of the roof
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the roof. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
Booking your survey
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, it’s useful to mention:
- What made you get in touch
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- What kind of property and roof it is
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or email us.
How the survey changes by roof type
Cast iron gutters
Cast iron tends to fail at the joints and fixings. Cracks, rust and leaks are recorded where they can be seen.
Lead-lined valley and parapet gutters
Many older homes have lead-lined valley and parapet gutters. A split lining can leak straight into the building.
How the survey works
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. You’re welcome to ask questions while we are there. Somewhere like Hockenden needs a little journey planning: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- We start by hearing about any drips, overflows or damp patches.
- Gutters, downpipes, fascias and soffits are inspected from safe vantage points.
- We check hidden gutters, like valleys and parapets, where it’s safe to see them.
- 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
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Getting a price
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. We survey seven days a week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
Do you need a gutter survey in Hockenden?
Valley, parapet and box gutters are frequently lined with lead or a sheet material. Splits and blocked outlets in these gutters can send water straight into the building, because there is no outer edge for it to spill over. Lead linings can also be stolen.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Cracked or loose downpipes
- Gutters packed with leaves or moss
- Gutters that have fallen out of line
- Choked outlets or hopper heads
Trees in and around Foots Cray Meadows shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- What exactly goes into their report
- Their insurance cover
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
Hockenden: your questions answered
Is Hockenden within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
I let a flat near Swanley station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, that’s a common request. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there is safe access. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement.
When does the report arrive?
It depends on the package: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. The report is emailed to you.
Do you check valley and parapet gutters?
Yes, where it’s safe to see them. We look from vantage points, the roof space and the roof itself where safe and a drone where applicable.
How much time does the visit need?
It typically takes about one to two hours at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. We’ll give you an idea when booking.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Water spilling from a gutter runs down and soaks the wall below. Given time, it can cause damp patches, damaged pointing and rot in nearby timber. Spotting the problem early tends to mean a simpler fix. For an older or listed building in a place like Hockenden, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both inc. VAT. We confirm the exact price before you book.
Why book us in Hockenden
- Photos and a written report every time
- An independent view of the roof
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 20+ years’ experience
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Hockenden
Across Kent, older roofs are frequently 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. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. Historic houses such as Hall Place and Gardens, about 3.2 miles north, show how far back building in the area around Hockenden goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Landlords with a home close to Swanley station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near Broadway Shopping Centre, a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks.
Hockenden is about 2 miles north-east of Orpington, in Kent. Hockenden is part of the area we cover across London and South East England. Hockenden is one of the towns and villages in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for London.
Gutter surveys in BR8 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Other places close to Hockenden include Upper Ruxley (1 mile north-west), Stonehill Green (1 mile north-east), Ruxley (1 mile north-west), Puddledock (2 miles north-east) and Hextable (2 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Dartford (4 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (8 miles south), Gravesend (10 miles east), Tonbridge (15 miles south), Northfleet (9 miles east) and Kings Hill (14 miles south-east).
What’s near Hockenden
Typical jobs here are in homes near Orchards Academy and Foots Cray Meadows and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Swanley station, about 1 mile south-east of the centre. Nearby you will also find London Borough of Bromley Museum (2.6 miles south-west) and Eynsford Castle (3.4 miles south-east). Open spaces near Hockenden include The Warren and Summer Hill.