Kent · London and the South East
Roof Leak Investigation in Stone Hill
Tracing where water is getting into your roof in Stone Hill, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- A leak that comes and goes with the weather
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
- Staining around the chimney inside
How a roof leak investigation works in Stone Hill
We use moisture detection and thermal imaging where they help. Moisture detection confirms where timbers, plaster or insulation are damp. Thermal imaging shows temperature differences that can point to wet areas, not water itself, so we confirm what it suggests with moisture readings. Thermal imaging is part of the Premium Survey, and moisture detection comes with Standard. Thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, on a dry roof with little wind. We are frequently asked to look into drips in the loft during heavy rain and water coming in around a roof light or dormer, across lead flashings, the roof space and slate and tile slopes.
Many homes in small places like Stone Hill face open ground, where storms hit ridges, verges and chimneys hardest. Damp in old stone, brick or timber walls is slow to dry out, so it pays to find the cause quickly. A written record also helps if you need to explain it to anyone else.
If any part of the leaking roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Stone Hill (TN25)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Wind, rain and roofs in Stone Hill
Stone Hill is within about 5 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Strong wind lifts anything already loose, and driving rain gets in wherever it can. Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. The covering and its details give the first clues when tracing where water is coming from.
Westenhanger Castle lies about 2.2 miles south-east, so building around Stone Hill goes back a long way. Older roofs in the area may have lead flashings, valleys and gutters that have been patched many times. Anyone responsible for a site like Sellindge Primary School will know that a leak through a large roof is frequently found some distance from where the water shows inside.
Stone Hill is about 5 miles north-west of Hythe, in Kent. In Stone Hill, as across Kent, every roof gets the same careful survey. Across Kent, we cover Stone Hill. Our Canterbury page covers surveys nearby.
All of TN25 is within our area for roof leak investigations, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Stone Hill, Southenay Lane and Cooper's Lane or a nearby road, we can help. Other places close to Stone Hill include Lilyvale (1 mile north-west), Brabourne Lees (1 mile north-west), Smeeth (1 mile north-west), Ridgeway (1 mile north-west) and Bircholt Forstal (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Ashford (6 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north), Dover (14 miles east), Folkestone (8 miles east), Faversham (15 miles north) and Hythe (5 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Stone Hill
The closest station to Stone Hill is Westenhanger station, roughly 2.4 miles south-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Lympne Castle (3.1 miles south-east) and William Harvey Hospital (3.8 miles north-west). For a walk, there’s Hatch Park and Tolsford Hill.
How it works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It typically takes about one to two hours at most homes, and longer for a large or complex roof. Rural addresses near Stone Hill can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- The investigation works from the stain back to the roof.
- Where it is useful and included, we take moisture readings and use thermal imaging.
- The report explains the likely entry point and what needs attention.
Getting ready for the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Booking a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email to find out.
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Rented homes, blocks and businesses
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as homeowners. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the leaking roof.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photos included.
What you can safely check yourself
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That’s where a survey comes in.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
Roof by roof
Lead flashings
Mortar fillets are sometimes used instead of lead. They crack as the roof and wall move, letting rain run behind the joint.
Slate and tile slopes
Ridge and hip tiles can loosen as their mortar cracks. Water then gets in along the top of the roof.
Stone Hill: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Stone Hill is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is Stone Hill within the area you cover?
Yes, Stone Hill 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.
Do you look in the loft space?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there is safe access. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement.
Could my leak actually be condensation?
Condensation can look very like a leak. Widespread damp on the underside of the roof in cold weather, with blocked vents, suggests condensation. We check the pattern of damp and the ventilation, then say which is most likely.
What should I do before you arrive?
Make sure the loft can be reached. Gather any photos and notes about when it leaks, plus details of past repairs. Keep catching drips and keep water away from electrics.
Do you use thermal imaging to find leaks?
It can, when the conditions are right. The best results come after a sunny day, on a dry roof with little wind. Damp areas can hold heat differently from dry ones. Its findings are confirmed with a moisture check.
How long does the visit take?
It normally takes between one and two hours, more where the leak is intermittent or the roof is large. The report follows within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Places near Stone Hill
Also in Stone Hill
When you need someone else
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Water from pipes, tanks or heating systems
- Leaks that only appear in weather we can’t recreate
- Carrying out the fix
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Stone Hill
- The roof space
- Rooflights and dormers
- Flat roof details
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Slate and tile slopes
Signs you need a roof leak investigation in Stone Hill
A chimney stack has plenty of places for rain to get in. Eroded pointing, cracked flaunching, failed flashings and open pots can all be responsible. It can show up on the chimney breast, nearby ceilings or in the loft space.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Leaks at a dormer or roof window
- Staining around the chimney inside
- Wet patches on loft insulation
- Water through the ceiling under a flat roof
For landlords with property near Westenhanger station, tracing a leak quickly matters when a tenant is living with it.
What to check before booking
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What exactly goes into their report
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?