Kent · London and the South East
Orlestone Roof Leak Investigation
Not sure what state the leaking roof is in? You can book a roof leak investigation in Orlestone and across Kent, with plain-English findings.
- Damp walls below an overflowing gutter
- Damp patches next to the stack
- Water dripping from rafters or underlay
How a roof leak investigation works in Orlestone
On a flat roof, water can travel a long way under the covering. Splits, blisters, failed laps, worn upstands and blocked outlets are common causes. Standing water puts extra pressure on every weak point. We check both the covering and the room underneath to narrow it down. Leaks under flat extension, garage and dormer roofs are common. An ageing felt roof is a frequent culprit. We survey chimney stacks, the roof space and slate and tile slopes, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are condensation that looks like a leak and damp on a chimney breast.
In a village or hamlet like Orlestone, 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, which matters if you are thinking of an insurance claim. We check what can safely be seen and set out what we find. Damp in old walls and timbers is slow to dry, so the sooner the cause is found the better.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Orlestone (TN26)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
The visit has one job: to look at the leaking roof as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photos go into the written report. It normally takes an hour or two for most homes, though a hard-to-trace leak can take longer. For a village or hamlet like Orlestone, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- We agree a date, including weekends.
- We inspect inside and out, starting from the stain.
- Moisture detection and thermal imaging are used where your package includes them and they help.
- You get photos, the likely cause and clear recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
Arrange a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
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Do you need a roof leak investigation in Orlestone?
Condensation is frequently mistaken for a leak. Moist air from bathrooms and kitchens condenses on the cold underside of the roof, particularly in lofts with blocked eaves. Drips from nails and damp underlay are typical signs.
Common reasons to book include:
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
- Damp on a chimney breast
- Drips from nail tips in a cold loft
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Hamstreet Primary Academy, a leak through a large roof is often found some distance from where the water shows inside.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Which limits apply to the survey
What this survey cannot tell you
No survey can tell you everything, and it’s better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Faults hidden behind ceilings or boarding
- Carrying out the fix
- Leaks from plumbing, tanks or pipework rather than the roof
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will suggest the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings
- Rooflights and dormers
- Flat roof details
- Slate and tile slopes
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Valleys and parapet gutters
Before and after the survey
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Let us know what has already been tried
- Take dated photos of the leak
- Catch drips in a bucket and protect the floor
- Check whether pipes or tanks run near the stain
Your report arrives by email, with photographs of what we found. It explains the likely entry point, the route the water takes and our recommendations. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day.
After a downpour, look in the loft space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Look for drips, damp patches and stains on timbers. Photograph anything new.
Roof leak investigations around Orlestone
Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Different coverings let water in at different points, which shapes where the search starts. Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand.
If you let a flat or house near Ham Street station, a tenant living with a leak needs the cause found, not just the stain painted over. The streets around a church like Church of St Mary the Virgin are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, the leak may come from a chimney, a valley or tired lead rather than the covering itself.
Orlestone is about 4 miles south of Ashford, in Kent. Bookings from Orlestone are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Orlestone is one of the towns and villages in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
All of TN26 is covered for roof leak investigations. Other places close to Orlestone include Hamstreet (1 mile south-east), Bromley Green (1 mile north), Kenardington (2 miles south-west), Ruckinge (2 miles south-east) and Stone Cross (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Ashford (4 miles north), Folkestone (14 miles east), Hythe (10 miles east), Hawkinge (14 miles east), Tenterden (7 miles west) and Cheriton (13 miles east).
Local landmarks in Orlestone
In Orlestone, that means homes and buildings near The Dukes Head pub. Orlestone’s nearest station is Ham Street station, about 0.7 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include Woodchurch Village Life Museum (3.6 miles west) and William Harvey Hospital (5.3 miles north-east). The countryside around Orlestone includes Orlestone Forest.
Orlestone: your questions answered
Do you carry out roof surveys in Orlestone?
Yes, Orlestone is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and the South East. You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details.
Is Orlestone within the area you cover?
Yes, Orlestone is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
How should I prepare for the leak investigation?
Note when the leak appears and what the weather was doing. Move stored items away from the loft hatch. If water is near any fittings, have an electrician check them.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Does someone need to be in?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access when booking.
Can every leak be traced?
We cannot 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.
Places near Orlestone
More services for Orlestone
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings
A leak at a flashing often shows some way from the joint. That’s why we check the flashings near a stain, not just the one directly above.
Slate and tile slopes
Ridge and hip tiles can loosen as their mortar cracks. Rain can then run in at the ridge.
How we price roof leak investigations
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
For a price for your roof in Orlestone, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Getting in touch
Before you get in touch, it is useful to have:
- The property’s address and postcode
- The kind of building and roof involved
- What made you get in touch
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.