Kent · London and the South East
Gutter Survey in Kemsing
Wondering about the gutter at a property in Kemsing? We carry out gutter surveys in Kemsing and across Kent.
- Choked outlets or hopper heads
- Gutters full of debris and silt
- Joints that drip after rain
Gutter surveys for homes and businesses in Kemsing
We check the rainwater system above ground level, from the gutters down to where the downpipes meet the ground. It’s not a CCTV drain survey, so we can’t see inside underground pipes. If the problem looks like a blocked or broken drain below ground, we will say so in the report, so you can get the drains checked separately. Anything we find above ground, like a split hopper or a leaking downpipe, is photographed and recorded. We survey valley gutters, outlets and hoppers and parapet and box gutters, and the problems we are asked to look at most are downpipes that are split or coming away and brackets that have dropped or snapped.
In a smaller place like Kemsing, homes range from older cottages to bungalows and newer houses. Coverings range from slate and clay tiles on older homes to concrete tiles on many later ones. On older homes, chimney stacks, valleys and gutters are normally where the work is, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. Nails and battens under older coverings often give out before the slates or tiles themselves.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Location
- Kemsing (TN15)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Gutter surveys in Kemsing: local notes
About 2.8 miles south lies Knole House, a reminder of how long the area around Kemsing has been built on. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. 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. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Kemsing Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. Take an older house close to Church of St Mary: corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. Trees in and around Kemsing Down shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Kemsing is about 2 miles north-east of Sevenoaks, in Kent. Kemsing is one of many places we visit across Kent, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across Kent. There is also a page for Maidstone.
Gutter surveys in TN15 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include High Street, Copperfields Walk and Childsbridge Lane, and we cover them all. We also cover the places around Kemsing: Cotman's Ash (1 mile north-east), Heaverham (2 miles east), Woodlands (2 miles north-east), Romney Street (2 miles north) and Knatts Valley (2 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns like Maidstone (14 miles east), Dartford (9 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (12 miles south), Gravesend (11 miles north-east), Tonbridge (8 miles south) and Northfleet (10 miles north-east).
Near you in Kemsing
We work in homes and buildings around St Michael's Preparatory School, Knole Academy and Kemsing Down, among other places. The nearest railway station is Otford station, roughly 1 mile north-west. Other landmarks nearby include Kemsing Castle Bank (0.5 miles east) and Otford Heritage Centre (1 mile west). Green spaces nearby include Dryhill Nature Reserve.
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead-lined valley and parapet gutters
Many older homes have lead-lined valley and parapet gutters. Splits and failed joints in the lead can let water straight in.
Aluminium and other metal gutters
Aluminium and other metal gutters are used on many newer and commercial buildings. Joints, outlets and fixings are the parts we focus on.
Practical tips
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Make sure downpipe clips are holding
- Leave gutter checks at height to someone equipped for it
- Do not leave hidden gutters out of a clear-out
- Get trees that overhang the gutters trimmed
Questions about the report are welcome. With the Standard Survey there is a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey comes with an in-person one.
Look at the gutters from indoors or the ground when it pours. Overflows and dripping joints are a sign to act before the walls suffer.
FAQs for Kemsing
Will you come out to Kemsing?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Can a landlord with a rental near Otford station book a roof survey?
Yes, that’s a common request. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
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. All of them come by email, ready to forward.
How long does a gutter survey take?
Most visits to a house take about 1–2 hours, and longer for larger or complex roofs.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs like sagging are noted, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. The report will say if you need an engineer.
Do you survey at weekends?
Yes, weekend visits are possible as well as weekdays. Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form to arrange it.
For landlords and managing agents
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
Checking the roof from ground level
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
Towns and villages near Kemsing
More services for Kemsing
How the survey works
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take between one and two hours for a house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. With a bit of garden around a house, as there frequently is around Kemsing, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Mention any side of the property we can’t get to. Inside, the loft is looked at where it can be reached safely.
- First, we agree the areas to focus on.
- Each gutter run is checked for blockages, sags and leaking joints.
- We check the outlets, hoppers, downpipes and any overflows.
- Fascias, soffits and the walls below are looked at for signs of overflow.
- You get photos and written recommendations, prioritised where relevant.
Preparing for the visit
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Find any records of previous roof work
Book a survey
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us a few details about the property and we will point you to the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Advice
Leave it or get it looked at?
It’s easy to put damp down to the wrong cause. When rainwater goods are the source, treating the wall alone will not solve it. Checking the gutters first helps you spend in the right place. In a smaller place like Kemsing, wherever a roof is exposed, a loose ridge or flashing doesn’t stay loose for long. Each storm lifts it a little further.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Kemsing
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Photos and a written report every time
- An independent view of the roof
See our cost guide and our case studies.