Kent · London and the South East
Shirkoak Gutter Survey
A survey of gutters, valleys, outlets and downpipes in Shirkoak. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Overflowing eaves gutters
- Fascia boards damaged by overflowing water
- Leaks at the gutter joints
About our gutter survey in Shirkoak
Gutters are typically fixed to fascia boards, so fascias and soffits are part of the survey. Water that overflows for long enough can rot timber fascias and mark the soffits underneath. On buildings from before 2000, some soffits and rainwater goods may be asbestos cement. We do not test for asbestos, but we flag anything that could contain it. We survey valley gutters, fascias and soffits and downpipes, and the problems we are asked to look at most are choked outlets or hopper heads and sagging gutters and loose brackets.
Somewhere as small as Shirkoak, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently 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’s normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
What you get is a clear record of the gutter on the day we saw it. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Shirkoak (TN26)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Box and secret gutters
Box gutters sit within the roof or behind a wall and when it overflows, water can get indoors. We inspect them as far as it’s safe to see them.
Fascias and soffits
Soffits and timber fascias suffer when gutters overflow. They’re looked at as part of the survey.
Your questions about gutter surveys in Shirkoak
Is my home in Shirkoak listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Can a landlord with a rental near Ham Street 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.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
Will the survey check for asbestos?
No. We don’t test for asbestos. If rainwater goods or soffits look like they could contain asbestos, we note it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before any work.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
How long will you be on site?
Most visits to a house take about 1–2 hours, with commercial buildings nearer 3–4 hours.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
Places near Shirkoak
Also in Shirkoak
Can I check my roof myself?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Before and after the survey
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Check that downpipes are firmly fixed to the wall
- Have gutters cleared at least once a year
- Note any damp stains below the gutters
- Check from the ground or a window, not a ladder
The report comes with photos and clear written recommendations. Share it with a contractor of your choice so they know what needs doing.
Hidden gutters need clearing too. They block in the same way as the gutters you can see but they’re much harder to spot, so check they’re included in any clearing work.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Shirkoak
The wider area around Shirkoak has a long history of building, with Smallhythe Place about 4.8 miles south-west. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Across Kent, older roofs are often 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. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
Anyone responsible for a site like Woodchurch Church of England Primary School will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale. For landlords with property near Ham Street station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. For an older house near a landmark like Parish Church of All Saints, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Shirkoak is about 5 miles south-west of Ashford, in Kent. We survey roofs in Shirkoak and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and the South East. Across Kent, we cover Shirkoak and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
All of TN26 is covered for gutter surveys. We offer gutter surveys to properties on Bethersden Road, Shirkoak Park and Redbrook Street. We also cover the places around Shirkoak: Woodchurch (1 mile south), Brattle (1 mile south), Brook Street (2 miles south), Leigh Green (3 miles south-west) and Appledore Heath (4 miles south). Larger places within reach include Ashford (5 miles north-east), Hythe (14 miles east), Tenterden (4 miles south-west), Bearsted (15 miles north-west), Park Wood (14 miles north-west) and Kennington (7 miles north-east).
What’s near Shirkoak
We work in homes and buildings around Stone Wood and The Bonny Cravat Inn, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Ham Street station, about 4 miles south-east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Romden Castle (4.6 miles north-west) and Woodchurch Village Life Museum (0.7 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Orlestone Forest.
What affects the price in Shirkoak
Our packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
Prices start from £150, including VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both with VAT included. We confirm the price for your roof before you book.
Helping us price your survey
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.
When you need someone else
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- What’s behind fascias and inside walls
- Whether a material contains asbestos (a specialist asbestos surveyor’s job)
- Blockages deep inside downpipes
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Fascias and soffits
- Parapet and box gutters
- Eaves gutters
- Valley gutters
- Outlets and hoppers
- Downpipes
How the survey works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes about one to two hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Older roofs in small places like Shirkoak can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We start by hearing about any drips, overflows or damp patches.
- Gutters, downpipes, fascias and soffits are inspected from safe 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.
- We send a written report with photos and clear recommendations.
How to prepare
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Getting a price
To get a price for gutter surveys in Shirkoak, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.