Kent · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Great Chart
An experienced roof surveyor for roof leak investigations in Great Chart. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
How a roof leak investigation works in Great Chart
On older houses, leaks often start at lead work and hidden gutters. Lead flashings crack or lift, valley linings wear and parapet gutters overflow when outlets block. A central valley gutter on a butterfly roof often turns out to be the source in heavy rain. Parapet walls and their gutters are looked at from wherever it’s safe. Our report shows what we found, with photos. We survey the roof space, rooflights and dormers and slate and tile slopes, and people most often book us about water coming in around a roof light or dormer and condensation that looks like a leak.
In a village or hamlet like Great Chart, older cottages and farmhouses often have roofs that have been patched over many years. A new leak may be fresh damage or the latest sign of long-term wear, and the difference matters, especially to an insurer. We check what can safely be seen and set out what we find. Older walls and timbers hold water for a long time, so it’s worth finding the cause soon.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Great Chart (TN23)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
Getting the most from a roof leak investigation starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Photograph the stain each time it appears
- Write down the wind direction and rain when it leaks
- Tell us about any past repairs to the roof
- Move stored items away from the hatch
We email the report to you. It sets out where we believe the water is getting in, how it is travelling and what needs attention. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day.
Have flashings and flat roofs looked at every few years. They’re where most leaks start, and wear is easier to deal with before water gets in.
How the survey works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes about 1–2 hours for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a hamlet or village like Great Chart, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- We agree a date, including weekends.
- We inspect inside and out, starting from the stain.
- Where it’s useful and included, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- You get photos, the likely cause and clear recommendations.
How to prepare
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Booking a survey
For a price for roof leak investigations in Great Chart, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us price the survey accurately.
Read more
How the survey changes by roof type
Slate and tile slopes
Ridge and hip tiles can loosen as their mortar cracks. Rain can then run in at the ridge.
Parapet and box gutters
Linings, joints and outlets are inspected wherever it’s safe.
Places near Great Chart
Also in Great Chart
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Great Chart
Is Great Chart in the area you cover?
Yes, Great Chart is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Great Chart?
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.
Can a leak be traced on a dry day?
Usually, yes. Moisture detection shows where materials are damp even on a dry day. For leaks that only happen in certain storms, we report the most likely routes.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Does the investigation include the repair?
The investigation is about finding the cause. The repair itself is a separate job. You get a report with photos showing where the water is getting in and what needs attention.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We note visible signs such as 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.
Do you need a roof leak investigation in Great Chart?
Chimneys can let water in by several routes. 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 loft space.
People usually book a survey after spotting something like this:
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Water that shows only in certain storms
- Stains around a skylight
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Mary, old mortar, worn lead and slipped slates are the usual suspects when water gets in.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- What experience they bring
- When you’ll get the report
What we cannot see
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Putting the leak right
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- Leaks that only appear in weather we cannot recreate
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Rooflights and dormers
- Lead flashings
- The roof space
- Slate and tile slopes
- Flat roof details
- Chimney stacks
Roof leak investigations in Great Chart: local notes
Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Where water gets in depends a good deal on what the roof is made of and how it is detailed. The wider area around Great Chart has a long history of building, with Godinton House about 1.1 miles north. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near County Square, a quick answer on where water is coming in keeps a business running. If you let a flat or house near Ashford International station, tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it.
Great Chart is about 1 mile west of Ashford, in Kent. We cover Great Chart and the rest of Kent. Our Kent coverage includes Great Chart and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Roof leak investigations in TN23 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need a roof leak investigation at a property on The Street, Toke Close and The Paddocks or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover the places around Great Chart: Godinton (1 mile north-east), Chilmington Green (1 mile south-west), Stanhope (1 mile south-east), Ashford (1 mile east) and Fleeden (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (14 miles north-east), Sittingbourne (14 miles north), Folkestone (15 miles east), Faversham (12 miles north), Hythe (12 miles south-east) and Davington (12 miles north).
Landmarks near Great Chart
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Little Black Dog pub, Ashford Community Woodland and John Wallis Academy, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Ashford International station, about 1.8 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include County Square (1.6 miles east) and William Harvey Hospital (3.5 miles east). Not far away are Orlestone Forest.
What affects the cost of roof leak investigations
All our prices include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The size of the roof
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before booking.
What to let us know when you contact us
What helps most when you contact us:
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.