Kent · London and the South East
Old Tree Roof Leak Investigation
We take a careful look at the leaking roof at your property in Old Tree, with photos and a written report.
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Staining where a gutter or parapet meets the wall
Old Tree roofs and the weather
The coast is about 3 miles or less from Old Tree, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. In a coastal gale, rain is driven sideways into laps, verges and flashings, while salt slowly corrodes metal fixings and flashings. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of the Holy Cross, water on an older roof tends to find its way in at the lead, the valleys or the chimney. Landlords with a home close to Herne Bay station may find that tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it.
Old Tree is about 3 miles south-east of Herne Bay, in Kent. In Old Tree, as across Kent, every roof gets the same careful survey. Old Tree is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Postcode districts we cover here for roof leak investigations: CT3. We also cover the places around Old Tree: Maypole (1 mile west), Hoath (1 mile south-west), Millbank (1 mile north-west), Knave's Ash (1 mile south-west) and Hollow Street (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (6 miles south-west), Margate (10 miles east), Dover (15 miles south), Ramsgate (10 miles east), Broadstairs (11 miles east) and Whitstable (6 miles west).
Around Old Tree
Around Old Tree, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Curtis Wood and Spires Academy, among other places. Old Tree’s nearest station is Herne Bay station, roughly 2.9 miles north-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include St Martins Hospital (5.1 miles south-west). Not far away are West Blean and Thornden Woods.
Roof leak investigation in Old Tree: what you get
Water is good at hiding where it gets in. It can run along a rafter, a batten or the underlay before it drips, so a ceiling stain is rarely directly below the cause. We follow it back towards where it starts, one likely route at a time. A repair aimed only at the stain can miss the cause entirely. Tracing the route first means any work can be aimed at the right place. If you’re worried about leaks that appear only in driving rain and damp walls below an overflowing gutter, we can find out what’s behind it, on lead flashings, valleys and parapet gutters and flat roof details alike.
In a village or hamlet like Old Tree, 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. The report says what was seen and what it points to. Damp in old walls and timbers is slow to dry, so the sooner the cause is found the better.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Old Tree (CT3)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlords, agents and block managers in Old Tree
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photographs included.
Your questions about roof leak investigations in Old Tree
Is Old Tree within the area you cover?
Yes, Old Tree is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Is the coastal weather around Old Tree hard on roofs?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there is more wind, and more salt in the air. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it typically shows, and Old Tree is within about 3 miles of the coast.
Could my leak actually be condensation?
The two can look alike. Widespread damp on the underside of the roof in cold weather, with blocked vents, suggests condensation. We check the pattern, take moisture readings and tell you which is more likely.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
How do I book a survey in Old Tree?
Simply phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so the building owner or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Does the report include photos?
Yes, every report has them. Pictures sit next to the findings they show.
What we’re asked to look at in Old Tree
A gutter that overflows can soak a wall and mark the ceiling inside. Hidden gutters behind parapets cause the most trouble, because when they block, water backs up and runs inside.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
Homes near green spaces such as Curtis Wood can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Questions to ask before you book
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- When you’ll get the report
Honest limits
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- A promise to find every leak on a single visit
- Water from pipes, tanks or heating systems
- What’s under the covering or behind the plaster
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
What we check
- The roof space
- Rooflights and dormers
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Flat roof details
- Slate and tile slopes
- Lead flashings
- Chimney stacks
What we do, step by step
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs, sent to you by email. On timing, most surveys take an hour or two on an ordinary house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Somewhere as small as Old Tree, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You let us know where the water appears, when, and what the weather was doing.
- Inside, we check 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 ground level, windows and the roof where safe.
- You receive a report with the likely source, photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Book a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Advice
Why act early in Old Tree
Water damage grows the longer it is left. Wet timbers start to decay, plaster softens and insulation stops working. Tracing it now means less to put right later. Around Old Tree, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why book us in Old Tree
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Over 20 years’ experience
- 98% customer satisfaction
- An independent look at the roof
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney stacks
A stack has several possible ways in for rain. We check each one as far as we can safely see.
Valleys
Valleys collect water from two roof slopes. Split lead, cracked linings or slipped tiles let water in.