Kent · London and the South East
Gutter Survey in Lydden
Wondering about the gutter at a property in Lydden? We carry out gutter surveys in Lydden and across Kent.
- Gutters packed with leaves or moss
- Hoppers and outlets full of debris
- Overflowing valley or parapet gutters
How a gutter survey works in Lydden
Some gutters are easy to see from the street but a good many gutters are tucked away. Valley, parapet, box and secret gutters can overflow inside the building when they block. We look at them as far as they can safely be seen, from ground level, from windows, from the roof space and from the roof where it’s safe. Hidden gutters are a common source of leaks inside. We survey downpipes, fascias and soffits and valley gutters, and common reasons people get in touch are joints that drip after rain and gutters packed with leaves or moss.
In a village or hamlet like Lydden, 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. On older roofs, it is typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Where
- Lydden (CT15)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Plastic (uPVC) gutters
Many homes have plastic gutters and downpipes. Their joints can leak as the seals wear, and brackets can sag under load.
Fascias and soffits
On buildings from before 2000, soffits may be asbestos cement. We flag any that could be so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check them before they’re disturbed.
Places near Lydden
Other services in Lydden
Lydden: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like Lydden?
Yes, Lydden is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Can a landlord with a rental near Kearsney station book a roof survey?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We look at everything that can safely be seen: from ground level, from windows, from inside the roof space, from the roof where it’s safe and by drone where it applies. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Are hidden gutters like valleys and box gutters included?
Yes, where it’s safe to see them. We look from vantage points, the loft space and the roof itself where safe and a drone where applicable.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Lydden homes and their roofs
Lydden is within about 4 miles of the coast, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
Anyone responsible for a site like Lydden Primary School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle. For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Mary Church of St Mary Virgin, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Lydden is about 3 miles north-west of Dover, in Kent. Lydden is part of the area we cover as part of our work across London and the South East. Lydden is one of the towns and villages in Kent we cover for gutter surveys. Canterbury is in our area too.
All of CT15 is within our area for gutter surveys. Local streets include St Marys Rise, Canterbury Road and The Close, and we cover them all. Other places close to Lydden include Coldred (1 mile north), Ewell Minnis (1 mile south-west), Temple Ewell (1 mile south-east), Halfway Street (1 mile north-west) and Wolverton (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (11 miles north-west), Dover (3 miles south-east), Folkestone (6 miles south-west), Ramsgate (14 miles north-east), Deal (8 miles north-east) and Herne Bay (15 miles north).
Local landmarks in Lydden
We work in homes and buildings around Sladden Wood and Hope Inn. The closest station to Lydden is Kearsney station, roughly 1.6 miles south-east. Nearby you’ll also find Dover Transport Museum (2.3 miles south-east) and Dover Castle (4.3 miles south-east). Open spaces near Lydden include Dover Western Heights.
Common roof problems in Lydden
Moss grows on many tiled and slate roofs, and rain washes it down into the gutters. With grit from the coverings, it forms a thick sludge that holds water in the gutter and gives plants somewhere to grow.
We are often asked to look at:
- Brackets that have dropped or snapped
- Soffits marked by water
- Leaking or loose downpipes
- Water backing up from a hidden gutter
Homes near green spaces such as Sladden Wood can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Their report turnaround times
- What experience they bring
Practical tips
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Have gutters cleared at least once a year
- Do not leave hidden gutters out of a clear-out
- Look for new stains on ceilings below valleys after rain
- Check from the ground or a window, not a ladder
If we think the problem lies underground, we’ll say so, so a drain survey can be arranged. Anything else we notice on the roof, as far as we can see it, is noted too.
Hidden gutters need clearing too. They collect leaves and silt just like eaves gutters but you cannot check them from the street, so ask for them to be included when gutters are cleared.
When you need someone else
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Confirming asbestos in older rainwater goods
- The inside of a downpipe along its whole length
- The inside of buried drains
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Parapet and box gutters
- Downpipes
- Valley gutters
- Fascias and soffits
- Eaves gutters
- Outlets and hoppers
How it works
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we look at everything we can see safely, from the ground, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where applicable. The survey usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Cottages and farmhouses around Lydden frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- You let us know where you’ve seen overflows, drips or damp.
- We walk round the building and check the gutters, downpipes and fascias from ground level.
- We look at hidden gutters as far as safe access allows.
- The roof space is checked for staining, where it can be reached safely.
- You receive a report with photos and recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
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, weekday or weekend.
Advice
Checking the roof from ground level
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.