Kent · London and the South East
Basted Roof Leak Investigation
Roof leak investigations in Basted from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and the South East.
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
- Staining around the chimney inside
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Clear the loft hatch so we can get in
- Check whether pipes or tanks run near the stain
- Photograph the stain each time it appears
- Write down the wind direction and rain when it leaks
The report gives whoever carries out the work a clear starting point. They’ll see exactly where the problem is, rather than at the stain.
After a downpour, look in the loft space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for water marks, wet underlay and damp wood. Take photos of anything that changes.
Roof leak investigation in Basted: what you get
On a flat roof, water can travel a long way under the covering. Splits, blisters, failed laps, worn upstands and blocked outlets are common causes. Ponding water makes any weakness worse. We check the roof surface and the ceiling below to narrow it down. Leaks under flat extension, garage and dormer roofs are common. Felt often lasts around 15 to 20 years, so age is part of the picture. If you’ve noticed wet patches high on an inside wall and water marks that spread in wet weather, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like Basted, older cottages and farmhouses frequently have roofs that have been patched over many years. A new leak may be fresh damage or the latest sign of long-term wear, which matters if you’re thinking of an insurance claim. We look at what can be seen safely and set out what we find. Damp in old walls and timbers is slow to dry, so the sooner the cause is found the better.
The report doesn’t just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Where
- Basted (TN15)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Basted
Other services in Basted
DIY checks: what’s safe
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry.
What affects the price in Basted
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Prices start from £150, inc. 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 survey before you book.
What to let us know when you get in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or email us.
How the survey works
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the leaking roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photographs go into the written report. It typically takes about 1–2 hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. Around Basted, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it is useful to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You tell us where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- Inside, we look at the stain and the ceiling around it.
- From the loft space, we trace the water’s route where there is safe access.
- We inspect the likely entry points outside, from the ground, windows and the roof where safe.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Book a survey
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
What we’re asked to look at in Basted
Blocked gutters can look like a roof leak. Parapet and box gutters are the worst for this, since a blocked outlet sends water over the lining and into the building.
We are frequently asked to look at:
- Damp patches next to the stack
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
Living close to Ivy Hatch Nature Reserve is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Before you book anyone
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What insurance they carry
- What experience they bring
- Whether VAT is added on top
Common questions in Basted
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Basted?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you carry out roof surveys in Basted?
Yes, Basted is within the area we cover. We work right across London and the South East. Just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach.
When does the report arrive?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. Each one is emailed, ready to forward.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
How do you tell a leak from condensation?
It’s a common question. A leak typically shows in one area and follows rain, while condensation is often widespread and worst on cold days. The report explains which it looks like and what to do.
Can you trace a leak in dry weather?
Normally, yes. Moisture detection shows where materials are damp even on a dry day. If a leak only appears in driving rain from one direction, we will tell you what we found and what’s most likely.
What a roof leak investigation does not cover
It’s a careful look at the leaking roof, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Plumbing leaks that look like roof leaks
- A structural engineer’s report
- What’s under the covering or behind the plaster
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we will suggest the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flat roof details
- Lead flashings
- The roof space
- Rooflights and dormers
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Slate and tile slopes
- Chimney stacks
Roof leak investigations in Basted: local notes
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. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Knowing the roof type helps narrow down where water may be getting in. Historic houses such as Old Soar Manor, about 1.4 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around Basted goes. 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.
For landlords with property near Borough Green & Wrotham station, finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused. The streets around a church such as The Church of the Good Shepherd are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, water on an older roof tends to find its way in at the lead, the valleys or the chimney.
Basted is about 5 miles east of Sevenoaks, in Kent. We survey roofs in Basted and the rest of Kent. Across Kent, we cover Basted. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
We work across TN15 for roof leak investigations. Local streets include Basted Mill and Plough Hill, and we cover them all. We also cover the places around Basted: Claygate Cross (1 mile south-east), Crouch (1 mile south-east), Borough Green (1 mile north), Platt (1 mile north-east) and Plaxtol (1 mile south). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (10 miles east), Dartford (12 miles north), Sevenoaks (5 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (10 miles south), Gravesend (11 miles north) and Tonbridge (6 miles south).
Around Basted
We work in homes and buildings around The Plough Public House, Wrotham School and Ivy Hatch Nature Reserve and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Borough Green & Wrotham station, roughly 0.9 miles north of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Ightham Court (1.3 miles north-west) and Sevenoaks Hospital (4.8 miles west).