Kent · London and the South East
Barfrestone Roof Leak Investigation
Roof leak investigations in Barfrestone from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
- Condensation that looks like a leak
About our roof leak investigation in Barfrestone
Most roof leaks start at a joint rather than the middle of a slope. Common entry points include chimney and wall flashings, valleys, parapet and box gutters, and the upstands and outlets on flat roofs. Each of these is checked in turn and we follow where the evidence leads. Every chimney, dormer and roof light adds more joints to check. We look at all of them, from every safe viewpoint. If you’re worried about damp patches next to the stack and water through the ceiling under a flat roof, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
For a small place like Barfrestone, the inspection is the same as anywhere: we simply plan the journey and access ahead. Let us know where the water shows, when it appears and anything you’ve noticed outside, plus any earlier repairs. If you have photographs of the water coming in, they help as well.
If any part of the leaking roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Location
- Barfrestone (CT15)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Barfrestone
Do you cover smaller places like Barfrestone?
Yes. Barfrestone is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Is Barfrestone in the area you cover?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Barfrestone as anywhere else.
Can every leak be traced?
We can’t promise to find every leak on one visit. Most leave clues we can follow, but intermittent leaks that need particular weather can be harder. The report sets out what we found and the most likely routes.
Do you look in the loft space?
If there’s a loft and safe access to it, yes. From inside, the underside of the roof frequently shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
What happens after the survey?
You’ll get the report by email. With Standard there’s a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where applicable let us see the rest, and the report records anything we couldn’t see.
What does the report include?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, backed by photographs. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, so you know exactly what was covered.
Leaks and storm damage in Barfrestone
Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in. About 2.7 miles north lies Goodnestone Park, a reminder of how long the area around Barfrestone has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Eythorne Elvington Community Primary School, water through a big roof can travel a long way before it drips, so the search covers more than the obvious spot. If you let a flat or house near Shepherds Well station, a clear finding on where water gets in helps you brief a roofer straight away.
Barfrestone is about 5 miles north-west of Dover, in Kent. We carry out roof leak investigations in Barfrestone for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our Kent coverage includes Barfrestone and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Every address in CT15 is within our area for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We also cover the places around Barfrestone: Frogham (1 mile north-west), Elvington (1 mile east), Nonington (1 mile north-west), Snowdown (2 miles north-west) and Woolage Village (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (9 miles north-west), Margate (14 miles north-east), Dover (5 miles south-east), Folkestone (9 miles south), Ramsgate (12 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (14 miles north-east).
What’s near Barfrestone
The closest station to Barfrestone is Shepherds Well station, about 1.3 miles south-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Buckland Hospital (5.5 miles south-east).
How the survey changes by roof type
Slate and tile slopes
Cracked mortar lets ridge and hip tiles move. Water then gets in along the top of the roof.
Parapet and box gutters
Linings, joints and outlets are inspected wherever it’s safe.
What we are asked to look at in Barfrestone
Condensation is often mistaken for a leak. Warm, moist air from the house rises into a cold roof space and condenses, particularly in lofts with blocked eaves. Drips from nails and damp underlay are typical signs.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Wet patches on loft insulation
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Damp underlay across a wide area
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
Take an older house close to Church of St Nicholas: the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself.
What to check before booking
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Are they insured for the work?
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
The survey, step by step
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photos as we go and record our findings for the written report. It usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. In a hamlet or village like Barfrestone, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You let us know where the water shows and when it appears.
- We look at the stain, the ceiling and the loft above it.
- We check the likely entry points outside, such as flashings, valleys, chimneys and gutters.
- Moisture readings and thermal imaging are used where they help.
- We email a report with photos, the likely entry point and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Booking a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
Related advice
What affects the price in Barfrestone
We confirm the price for your roof before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The size of the roof
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
What we need to know
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- What’s prompted the survey
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Nearby places to Barfrestone
Other services in Barfrestone
Can I check my roof myself?
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
When you need someone else
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- The repair itself (the investigation finds and reports the cause)
- Plumbing leaks that look like roof leaks
- An intermittent leak that shows no trace on the day
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Lead flashings
- Slate and tile slopes
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roof details
- The roof space
- Rooflights and dormers
- Valleys and parapet gutters