Kent · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in New Barn, Kent
Roof leak investigations in New Barn from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and the South East.
- Damp underlay across a wide area
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Ceiling stains that grow after rain
Roof leak investigation in New Barn
We use moisture detection and thermal imaging where they help. Moisture readings show which materials are wet. Thermal imaging shows temperature differences that can point to wet areas, not water itself, so we confirm what it suggests with moisture readings. Moisture detection is included in the Standard Survey, and thermal imaging in Premium. The best thermal results come after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. If you’ve noticed drips from nail tips in a cold loft and water marks that spread in wet weather, we can find out what’s behind it.
Houses in smaller places like New Barn can stand more in the open, so wind and driving rain find any weakness in ridges, verges and flashings. If a leak shows only when the wind is in a certain direction, that’s a useful clue. Let us know when it happens when you contact us. The gutters on the most exposed side can overflow too.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Location
- New Barn (DA3, DA13)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Put a bucket under the drip and move valuables
- Keep a photo record of the damp patch
- Check whether pipes or tanks run near the stain
- Keep water away from lights and sockets
Where we find more than one possible route, we say which is most likely and why. We say which items need prompt attention, so you know what to deal with first.
After a downpour, look in the roof space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for water marks, wet underlay and damp wood. Photograph anything new.
What we do, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes an hour or two, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. For a survey in New Barn, we agree the time, the access and parking before the day. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. Let us know about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- 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.
- We email a written report showing where the water most likely gets in.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Book a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
Leaks and storm damage in New Barn
The coast is about 5 miles or less from New Barn, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Driving rain off the sea can be pushed into gaps that stay dry in calmer weather, while salt slowly corrodes metal fixings and flashings. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Where water gets in depends a good deal on what the roof is made of and how it’s detailed.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself. If you live near a park such as Rectory Meadow, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys.
New Barn is about 3 miles south of Northfleet, in Kent. Surveys in New Barn work the same way as everywhere we cover: a close look at everything that’s safely in view, photos and a clear written report. Our area takes in places right across Kent. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Postcode districts we cover here for roof leak investigations: DA3 and DA13. You will find streets such as The Maples, Kenwood Avenue and Merileys Close. Neighbouring places we cover for roof leak investigations include Longfield Hill (1 mile south-east), Longfield (1 mile west), Hartley (1 mile south-west), Nash Street (1 mile east) and Meopham (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (12 miles south-east), Dartford (6 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (10 miles south-west), Gravesend (3 miles north-east), Tonbridge (14 miles south) and Northfleet (3 miles north).
Landmarks near New Barn
Around New Barn, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Istead Rise Primary School and Rectory Meadow and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Longfield station, roughly 1.2 miles west. Other landmarks nearby include Gravesham Museum (3.6 miles north-east) and Stone Castle (3.9 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Sawyers Lake.
What we look for on each type of roof
Parapet and box gutters
A butterfly roof drains to a central valley gutter. If that gutter or its outlet fails, water can come through the top-floor ceiling.
Chimney stacks
Damp on a chimney breast inside often starts at the top of the stack. Unused flues with open pots can let rain straight in.
Can I check my roof myself?
It’s useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book and it will help the survey.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Questions from New Barn
Is New Barn within the area you cover?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Is my home in New Barn listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
How do I book a survey in New Barn?
To book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
Can you always find the source?
Not always, and we’ll be honest about that. Some leaks hide well, particularly those that need wind-driven rain. Where the source is not certain, we list the likely routes in order.
Will I get photos?
Yes. Photographs are part of every report.
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. Damp areas can hold heat differently from dry ones. Its findings are confirmed with a moisture check.
Common roof problems in New Barn
Slipped or missing slates and tiles let rain reach the underlay. Old bitumen felt may cope for a while, but it tears and sags with age, and very old roofs may have no underlay at all. Corroded nails, known as ‘nail fatigue’, are a frequent cause on slate roofs.
Most people get in touch after spotting one of these:
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
- Brown rings on upstairs ceilings
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Leaks that appear only in driving rain
Historic houses such as Cobham College, about 3.1 miles east, show how far back building around New Barn goes. Leaks in period homes nearby often come from lead work and valleys that have been patched before.
Before you book anyone
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Whether the price includes VAT
Also near New Barn
Other services in New Barn
For landlords and managing agents
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Landlords, agents and building managers in New Barn and across Kent can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.