Kent · London and the South East
Roof leak investigation in Swattenden, Kent
Wondering about the leaking roof at a property in Swattenden? We carry out roof leak investigations in Swattenden and across Kent.
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Damp ceilings under a flat roof
- Stains around a skylight
What we are asked to look at in Swattenden
A roof valley collects the rain from two slopes. Worn lead, cracked linings or a build-up of leaves and moss can push water under the slates or tiles. Leaks from valleys often show up some distance away inside.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Water coming in around a roof light or dormer
- Wet patches high on an inside wall
- Drips in the loft during heavy rain
- Leaks below a flat extension roof
If you live near a park like Crane Valley, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Questions to ask before booking
- What insurance they carry
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
How a roof leak investigation works in Swattenden
Some ‘leaks’ aren’t leaks at all. In a badly ventilated roof space, condensation can form under the roof and drip, leaving marks that look just like rainwater. Telling the two apart matters, because they need very different work. We look at the pattern of damp, the weather and the ventilation before reaching a view. Common reasons to book are damp underlay across a wide area and leaks below a flat extension roof, across chimney stacks, the roof space and valleys and parapet gutters.
Somewhere as small as Swattenden, older roofs have often been repaired many times. A new leak may be fresh damage or the latest sign of long-term wear, and the difference matters, particularly to an insurer. The report says what was seen and what it points to. Older walls and timbers hold water for a long time, so it’s worth finding the cause soon.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly.
- Where
- Swattenden (TN17)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
Leaks and storm damage in Swattenden
Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Each of these roof types has its own typical places for water to get in. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
If you live in an older home near Congregational Church, water on an older roof tends to find its way in at the lead, the valleys or the chimney. Take a building like Cranbrook School: a leak through a large roof is often found some distance from where the water shows inside.
Swattenden is about 12 miles east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. Swattenden gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a proper look at everything that’s safely in view, photographs and a clear written report. Our area takes in places right across Kent, large and small. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
We work across the TN17 postcode area for roof leak investigations. Nearby, we also carry out roof leak investigations in Hartley (1 mile west), Cranbrook (1 mile north), Baker's Cross (1 mile north-east), Coursehorn (1 mile north-east) and Gill's Green (2 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns like Maidstone (13 miles north), Ashford (15 miles east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (12 miles west), Tonbridge (14 miles north-west), Kings Hill (14 miles north) and Foley Park (14 miles north).
Landmarks near Swattenden
We work in homes and buildings around Duke Of York Public House Little Tudor and Crane Valley and the streets around them. Nearby you’ll also find Sissinghurst Castle (3.2 miles north-east) and Benenden Hospital (3.9 miles east).
The survey, step by step
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the roof space if there’s safe access. All told, expect about one to two hours for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Older roofs in small places like Swattenden can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- You pick a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect inside and out, starting from the stain.
- Moisture detection and thermal imaging are used where your package includes them and they help.
- The report explains the likely entry point and what needs attention.
Before the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Let us know about parking before the day
Book a survey
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know the cost up front. Roof leak investigation starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Before and after the survey
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Note the weather when the leak shows
- Photograph the stain each time it appears
- Leave roof access to professionals
- Let us know about any past repairs to the roof
The report gives whoever carries out the work a clear starting point. They’ll see exactly where the problem is, so the repair is aimed at the cause.
Look at the roof from ground level after strong winds. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Small faults dealt with quickly rarely become leaks.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Water and electrics do not mix. Keep away from any fitting that water is reaching and have an electrician check it. Finding where the water is getting in should follow right away. Outbuildings and barns around Swattenden are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
All our prices include VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for your survey before booking.
Why us?
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- PI and public liability insurance
- An independent view of the roof
- Packages from £150, including VAT
Read what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
Questions from Swattenden
Will you come out to Swattenden?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
Is my home in Swattenden listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only if it is safe. We inspect whatever is safely visible: from ground level, from windows, from inside the loft space, from the roof where it is safe and by drone where it applies. Anything we can’t see is noted in the report.
Are you insured?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We carry out surveys on weekdays and at weekends. To arrange a date, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Will I get photos?
Yes, plenty. Pictures sit next to the findings they show, so you can see what we mean.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
That depends on the survey. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in, while outside access can be discussed when booking.
Nearby places to Swattenden
More services for Swattenden
What this survey can’t tell you
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Carrying out the fix
- Leaks that only appear in weather we can’t recreate
- Whether rotten timbers meet design loads
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Swattenden
- Valleys and parapet gutters
- Lead flashings
- Rooflights and dormers
- Slate and tile slopes
- Flat roof details
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks