Kent · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Chevening, Kent
Tracing where water is getting into your roof around Chevening, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
How a roof leak investigation works in Chevening
Some leaks only appear in certain weather. Wind-driven rain, an overflowing gutter or snow melt may be what triggers it. Notes on when it leaks, and what the weather was doing, help us and so do photos. We look for the clues it leaves behind, like tide marks, stained timbers and damp underlay. Moisture readings show where materials are still wet. Common reasons to book are wet patches high on an inside wall and damp ceilings under a flat roof, across rooflights and dormers, flat roof details and lead flashings.
For a small place like Chevening, the inspection is the same as anywhere: we simply plan the journey and access ahead. Tell us where the water shows, when it appears and anything you’ve noticed outside, plus any earlier repairs. Photographs of the stain and of the roof from outside are helpful too.
The written findings come 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
- Chevening (TN14)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Useful tips for Chevening property owners
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Write down the wind direction and rain when it leaks
- Protect furniture and flooring under the leak
- Mention earlier attempts to fix the leak
- Tell us if there are tanks or pipes in the loft
Standard includes a follow-up consultation to talk the findings through, and Premium includes an in-person consultation. It’s a chance to ask about anything in the report.
After a storm, check the roof from the garden and the street. Slipped slates, lifted ridge tiles and debris on the ground are signs to act on. Prompt repairs stop gaps turning into leaks.
Places near Chevening
Also in Chevening
Chevening questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Chevening?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Will you come out to Chevening?
Yes, Chevening is covered. We work right across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Are you insured?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
How long does a roof leak investigation take?
The visit typically takes about 1–2 hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. We will confirm what to expect when we arrange the visit.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Usually, if there’s one and it can be reached safely. The loft space can show things the outside cannot, like damp timbers, staining or daylight.
What’s in the survey report?
It sets out what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, backed by photos. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely.
How it works
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. The whole visit normally takes about one to two hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. Older rural homes like those around Chevening can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- Inside, we look at the stain and the ceiling around it.
- In the loft, we follow any signs of water back towards the roof.
- We inspect the likely entry points outside, from the ground, windows and the roof where safe.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Before the survey
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
Arrange a survey
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
What we look for on each type of roof
Flat roof upstands and outlets
Outlets drain a flat roof. A blocked outlet leaves water standing, which tests every joint. Outlets and the area around them are looked at.
Slate and tile slopes
Ridge and hip tiles can loosen as their mortar cracks. Water then gets in along the top of the roof.
Checking the roof from ground level
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
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, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Roof leak investigations around Chevening
With Quebec House about 3.3 miles south-west, Chevening sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. 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.
For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Botolph, leaks on older roofs frequently start at lead flashings, valleys or around old chimney stacks. Take a building like Combe Bank School: tracing a leak on a big roof starts with where the water appears and works back.
Chevening is about 3 miles north-west of Sevenoaks, in Kent. If you are in Chevening, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our area takes in places right across Kent, large and small. There’s also a page for London.
Here we cover the TN14 postcode area for roof leak investigations. Other places close to Chevening include Chipstead (1 mile south-east), Sundridge (2 miles south), Dunton Green (2 miles east), Bessels Green (2 miles south-east) and Riverhead (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Dartford (11 miles north), Sevenoaks (3 miles south-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (13 miles south-east), Gravesend (14 miles north-east), Tonbridge (9 miles south-east) and Northfleet (13 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Chevening
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Trinity School, among other places. Chevening’s nearest station is Dunton Green station, roughly 1.7 miles east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Sevenoaks Hospital (2.8 miles east) and Kemsing Castle Bank (4.2 miles east). The countryside around Chevening includes Dryhill Nature Reserve and Betsom's Hill.
Signs you need a roof leak investigation in Chevening
A chimney stack has lots of places for rain to get in. Water can enter through crumbling mortar, cracked flaunching, worn flashings or uncapped pots. It can show up on the chimney breast, nearby ceilings or in the roof space.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Damp patches next to the stack
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
Landlords with a home close to Dunton Green station may find that tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it.
Questions to ask before you book
- What happens after the report arrives
- What exactly goes into their report
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Prices for roof leak investigations in Chevening
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- The roof’s overall size
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Getting in touch
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.