Kent · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Hollow Street, Kent
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes in Hollow Street, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Cracked or loose downpipes
- Gutters overflowing in heavy rain
- Soffits marked by water
How the survey works
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the gutter as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit normally takes an hour or two for most homes, and longer where there are parapet, valley or box gutters to follow. Somewhere like Hollow Street needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- First, you tell us what you’ve seen, such as overflows or damp.
- The eaves gutters, downpipes and fascias are checked from the ground and vantage points.
- Valley, parapet and box gutters are inspected as far as they can be seen safely.
- Where the loft can be reached safely, we check it for staining or damp.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Check we can get to the back of the property
Booking a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
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Gutter survey in Hollow Street
This survey covers rainwater above ground, from the gutters down to where the downpipes meet the ground. It is not a CCTV drain survey, so we can’t see inside underground pipes. Where water seems to be backing up from below ground, the report will say so, with a suggestion to book a separate drain survey. Anything we find above ground, like a split hopper or a leaking downpipe, is photographed and recorded. Common reasons to book are fascia boards damaged by overflowing water and overflowing eaves gutters, across parapet and box gutters, valley gutters and outlets and hoppers.
In a village or hamlet like Hollow Street, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs frequently need the most attention.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, and recommendations are put by urgency where it matters.
- Location
- Hollow Street (CT3)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we can’t see
It’s useful to know what a survey will not do before you book:
- Underground drains, which need a CCTV drain survey
- What’s hidden inside a downpipe
- Asbestos testing of old gutters, downpipes or soffits
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Hollow Street
- Parapet and box gutters
- Downpipes
- Fascias and soffits
- Valley gutters
- Eaves gutters
- Outlets and hoppers
Leave it or get it looked at?
Climbing a ladder to look in the gutters yourself is risky. You can see drips and overflows from ground level, but valleys, parapets and box gutters are hard to see. We inspect as far as it is safe to see and put it in writing. Outbuildings and barns around Hollow Street are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why book with us
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Package prices that include VAT
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- An independent view of the roof
What we’re asked to look at in Hollow Street
Many people get in touch after seeing water pour over a gutter in heavy rain. Others spot damp patches, ceiling stains or green marks on the walls. The survey helps pin down the source before more damage is done.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Gutters that have fallen out of line
- Gutters packed with leaves or moss
- Joints that drip after rain
- Soffits marked by water
Living close to Grove Ferry Picnic Area is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Hollow Street homes and their roofs
The coast is about 4 miles or less from Hollow Street, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, while driving rain finds any gap. Older houses across Kent frequently have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
For landlords with property near Sturry station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. If you look after a building such as Chislet Church of England Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Hollow Street is about 3 miles south-east of Herne Bay, in Kent. We visit Hollow Street as part of our work across Kent. Our area takes in places right across Kent, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Canterbury page.
Surveys in CT3 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We also cover Chislet (1 mile north-east), Chitty (1 mile north-east), Old Tree (1 mile north-west), Boyden Gate (1 mile north) and Hoath (1 mile west). We also work in nearby towns such as Canterbury (6 miles south-west), Margate (9 miles east), Dover (14 miles south), Ramsgate (10 miles east), Broadstairs (11 miles east) and Whitstable (7 miles west).
Around Hollow Street
Typical jobs here are in homes near Grove Ferry Picnic Area and Spires Academy and the streets around them. The closest station to Hollow Street is Sturry station, about 3.6 miles south-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find St Martins Hospital (5.1 miles south-west). For a walk, there’s West Blean and Thornden Woods.
What else we do in Hollow Street
For landlords and managing agents
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Hollow Street and across Kent can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or email us.
FAQs for Hollow Street
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Hollow Street?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch.
Is my home in Hollow Street listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
How soon will I get the report?
That depends on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. Reports are sent by email.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where it applies.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll explain what’s needed.
Can I check my roof myself?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.