Kent · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Harvel
Wondering about the leaking roof at a property in Harvel? We carry out roof leak investigations in Harvel and across Kent.
- Stains around a skylight
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
- Condensation that looks like a leak
Useful tips for Harvel property owners
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Protect furniture and flooring under the leak
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Photograph the stain each time it appears
- Note the weather when the leak shows
If there are several possible sources, we list them in order of likelihood. Recommendations are prioritised by urgency where relevant, so you know what to deal with first.
Have flashings and flat roofs looked at every few years. Flashings, valleys and flat roof details are frequent weak points, and wear is easier to deal with before water gets in.
Roof leak investigation in Harvel
Most roof leaks start at a joint rather than the middle of a slope. Flashings at chimneys and walls, valleys, gutters, parapets and flat roof upstands and outlets are the usual suspects. We check each likely route and we follow where the evidence leads. Chimneys, dormers and roof lights each add joints of their own. We look at all of them, from every safe vantage point. We survey the roof space, flat roof details and lead flashings, and common reasons people get in touch are damp ceilings under a flat roof and drips from nail tips in a cold loft.
For a small place like Harvel, the inspection is the same as anywhere: the journey and access are just planned ahead of time. It helps to know where the water appears, in what weather, and what you’ve seen outside, along with any repairs done before. Photographs of the stain and of the roof from outside are helpful too.
The report records the leaking roof as we found it on the day. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Harvel (DA13)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What a roof leak investigation looks like in Harvel
Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from. Historic houses such as Cobham College, about 3.4 miles north-east, show how far back building in the area around Harvel goes. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Landlords with a home close to Sole Street station may find that a tenant living with a leak needs the cause found, not just the stain painted over. Trees in and around Trosley Country Park shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters.
Harvel is about 6 miles south of Gravesend, in Kent. We cover Harvel and the rest of Kent. Our area takes in places right across Kent. We also survey roofs in Maidstone.
All of DA13 is within our area for roof leak investigations. That includes homes and businesses on St Francis Road, Hart Lane and Harvel Street and the roads around them. Other places close to Harvel include Priestwood Green (1 mile north), Culverstone Green (1 mile south-west), Priestwood (1 mile north), South Street (1 mile north-west) and Vigo Village (1 mile south). We also work in nearby towns such as Maidstone (9 miles south-east), Dartford (9 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (9 miles south-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (15 miles south), Gravesend (6 miles north) and Tonbridge (11 miles south).
Around Harvel
We work in homes and buildings around Meopham School and Trosley Country Park, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Sole Street station, roughly 2.7 miles north. A little further out are Leybourne Castle (3.6 miles south-east) and Coldrum Long Barrow (1.6 miles south). For a walk, there is Ranscombe Farm.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
What a survey costs
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and which survey you book.
What to let us know when you get in touch
You do not need to know any roofing terms. Just let us know:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed in advance. Surveys run on any day of the week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Landlords and letting agents in Harvel book surveys as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the leaking roof, with photos, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
What we are asked to look at in Harvel
Valleys carry a lot of water. Worn lead, cracked linings or a build-up of leaves and moss can send that water under the coverings. The stain may appear well away from the valley itself.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Condensation that looks like a leak
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Wet patches on loft insulation
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Culverstone Green Primary School, on a building that size, finding the source of a drip means looking well beyond the stain.
Before you book anyone
- When you will get the report
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Whether VAT is added on top
Places near Harvel
Also in Harvel
What happens on the day
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the roof space if there is safe access. All told, expect about one to two hours for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. For a village or hamlet like Harvel, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- We start with your notes and photos of the leak.
- We examine the damp area and the rooms near it.
- In the loft, we follow any signs of water back towards the roof.
- Outside, we check flashings, valleys, chimneys, gutters and flat roof details from each safe vantage point.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Book a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or email us. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Harvel
Do you cover smaller places like Harvel?
Yes. Harvel is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Is my home in Harvel listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
What will the report tell me?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos, finishing with recommendations. The most urgent items are made clear.
Can you always find the source?
We can’t promise to find every leak on one visit. Many leave clear signs, but intermittent leaks that need particular weather can be harder. We report what we found and the likeliest sources.
What do I do with the report?
The report arrives by email, with photos and clear recommendations. With Standard there’s a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.