Medway · London and the South East
Gutter survey in Lower Higham, Medway
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes in Lower Higham, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Valley or box gutters that overflow inside
- Water spilling over the gutter edge
- Joints that drip after rain
Gutter survey in Lower Higham
Your gutters take the rain from the roof and lead it away from the walls. If they clog, drip or sag, the water ends up somewhere it shouldn’t and that normally means the walls or the inside of the building. We check the full rainwater system above ground, from eaves gutters and valleys to outlets, hoppers and downpipes. The findings go into a written report with photos. Common reasons to book are leaks at the gutter joints and cracked or loose downpipes, on parapet and box gutters, outlets and hoppers and downpipes.
Somewhere as small as Lower Higham, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some 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’s usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Location
- Lower Higham (ME3)
- Region
- Medway
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- The inside of a downpipe along its whole length
- Hidden sections we cannot view safely
- Rot or damp concealed behind fascias or inside walls
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Outlets and hoppers
- Parapet and box gutters
- Downpipes
- Valley gutters
- Eaves gutters
- Fascias and soffits
How the survey changes by roof type
Cast iron gutters
Cast iron gutters and downpipes are found on many older buildings. They last well when painted but corrode once the paint wears off.
Fascias and soffits
Some older soffits may contain asbestos. We flag any that could be for a specialist asbestos surveyor to check.
Towns and villages near Lower Higham
Also in Lower Higham
Gutter surveys in Lower Higham: local notes
Lower Higham is within about 3 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, while driving rain finds any gap. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
Temple Manor, about 3 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Lower Higham. Older homes in the area may have roofs that need matching materials when work is done. If you look after a building such as Higham Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Lower Higham is about 3 miles north-west of Rochester, in Medway. Anywhere in Lower Higham, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our Medway coverage includes Lower Higham. There’s also a page for Maidstone.
Surveys in ME3 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Canal Road, Chalk Road and Chequers Street. We also cover Church Street (1 mile north), Higham (1 mile south), Mockbeggar (1 mile east), Gadshill (1 mile south) and Cliffe Woods (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Gillingham (6 miles south-east), Chatham (6 miles south-east), Rochester (3 miles south-east), Rainham (8 miles south-east), Strood (3 miles south) and Luton (5 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Lower Higham
Around Lower Higham, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Strood Academy, Broomhill Park and The Chequers pub and the streets around them. There is a railway station in Lower Higham itself: Higham station. Well-known places in the area include French Hospital (3.3 miles south-east) and Upnor Castle (3.1 miles south-east). Not far away are Gad's Hill and Rede Common.
Questions from Lower Higham
I let a flat near Higham station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details.
Do you cover smaller places like Lower Higham?
Yes. Lower Higham is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the survey around it.
Does the season matter for a gutter survey?
You can book at any time of year. Booking before autumn and winter gives you time to plan though problems often show up after heavy rain.
How long will you be on site?
A visit usually takes between one and two hours for most homes, and longer where there are parapet, valley or box gutters to follow. You will know roughly how long when we arrange the visit.
Will you check the drains below ground?
No, we do not carry out CCTV drain surveys. The survey covers gutters, outlets, hoppers, downpipes and overflows and note any sign that the drains need checking.
The survey, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Rural addresses near Lower Higham can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start with what you’ve noticed, such as damp or overflowing gutters.
- 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.
- You receive a report with photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Leave side gates unlocked
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Book a survey
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us some details about the property and we will suggest the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Read more
What affects the price in Lower Higham
To price your survey, we look at:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- House, block, shop or office
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Getting in touch
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Where the property is, with the postcode
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Do you need a gutter survey in Lower Higham?
Most gutter joints rely on seals or sealant that wear out. Plastic sections expand and contract with the weather, and in time their joints can drip. On cast iron, joints can rust and open up once the paint has worn away.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Leaks at the gutter joints
- Rotten fascias or stained soffits
- Water backing up from a hidden gutter
- Leaking or loose downpipes
For an older house near a landmark like St Mary's Church, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Questions to ask before booking
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- How soon the report will arrive
Checking the roof from ground level
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.