Kent · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Goodnestone, Kent
Roof leak investigations across Goodnestone, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Stains around a skylight
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
About our roof leak investigation in Goodnestone
On a flat roof, water can travel a long way under the covering. Common causes are splits and blisters, tired upstands and outlets that do not drain. Standing water puts extra pressure on every weak point. We look at the roof surface and the ceiling below to narrow it down. Flat roofs over extensions, garages and dormers are frequent sources of leaks. Felt frequently lasts around 15 to 20 years, so age is part of the picture. We survey lead flashings, chimney stacks and the roof space, and people most frequently book us about leaks that appear only in driving rain and damp ceilings under a flat roof.
In a village or hamlet like Goodnestone, older cottages and farmhouses often have roofs that have been patched over many years. That makes it hard to tell new damage from old wear, and the difference matters, particularly to an insurer. We check what can be seen safely and set out what we find. Older walls and timbers hold water for a long time, so it’s worth finding the cause soon.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Place
- Goodnestone (ME13)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes between one and two hours for a house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Rural addresses near Goodnestone can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- We examine the damp area and the rooms near it.
- From the roof 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.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Before we arrive
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
How to book
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window. To get started, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
Nearby places to Goodnestone
What else we do in Goodnestone
FAQs for Goodnestone
Is the coastal weather around Goodnestone hard on roofs?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details like ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch, and Goodnestone is within about 3 miles of the coast.
Is Goodnestone within the area you cover?
Yes. Goodnestone is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
How long does the visit take?
It usually takes an hour or two, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. Report times depend on the package.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We point out what can be seen, like sagging or deflection, but we’re not structural engineers and don’t carry out calculations. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
Is thermal imaging part of a leak investigation?
It can, when the conditions are right. It works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof surface and little wind. Wet insulation holds heat longer than dry, which can show up on the image. We always check what it shows with moisture readings.
How do I arrange a roof leak investigation in Goodnestone?
Simply ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
Water that gets in at the top can show up lower down. Unused flues with open pots can let rain straight in.
Slate and tile slopes
A gap in the coverings exposes the underlay. Ageing felt eventually lets water through.
What a roof leak investigation looks like in Goodnestone
Goodnestone lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Driving rain off the sea can be pushed into gaps that stay dry in calmer weather, and salt air slowly wears metal fixings. The wider area around Goodnestone has a long history of building, with Belmont House and Gardens about 5 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.
The streets around a church such as St Bartholomew's Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself. Trees in and around Mount Ephraim Gardens shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Goodnestone is about 2 miles east of Preston, in Kent. Anywhere in Goodnestone, we can come and survey your property. Across Kent, we cover Goodnestone and the places around it. Canterbury is in our area too.
Every address in ME13 is within our area for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We offer roof leak investigations to properties on Head Hill Road and Cherrywood and the roads around them. We also cover Culmers (1 mile north-east), Graveney (1 mile north-east), Broom Street (1 mile north), Staplestreet (1 mile south-east) and Slutshole (1 mile south-east). Further out, we also cover Ashford (12 miles south), Canterbury (7 miles east), Sittingbourne (9 miles west), Whitstable (5 miles north-east), Herne Bay (9 miles north-east) and Minster (9 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Goodnestone
We work in homes and buildings around Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School and Mount Ephraim Gardens. For rail, the closest station is Faversham station, roughly 1.9 miles west. Well-known places in the area include Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital (5.8 miles north-east). For a walk, there’s Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
Honest limits
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- Leaks from plumbing, tanks or pipework rather than the roof
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings
- Slate and tile slopes
- Rooflights and dormers
- Flat roof details
- Chimney stacks
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- The roof space
What we are asked to look at in Goodnestone
When a slate slips or a tile cracks, the underlay takes the water. Ageing felt underlay eventually tears and lets water through, while some very old roofs have nothing under the coverings. On slate roofs, slipping is often caused by corroded nails.
We are frequently asked to look at:
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
- Condensation that looks like a leak
Landlords with a home close to Faversham station may find that finding the cause of a leak fast keeps a tenant’s home dry and the work focused.
Before booking anyone
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Are they insured for the work?
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
DIY checks: what’s safe
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That’s where a survey comes in.
Why act early in Goodnestone
A leak that returns after a repair typically means the real source wasn’t found. A careful investigation looks at every likely route, not just the obvious one. That’s frequently what breaks the cycle. Older cottages and farmhouses around Goodnestone can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Why book with us
- An independent view of the roof
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Every finding written up with photos
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.