Kent · London and the South East
Birling Roof Survey
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings across Birling, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or broken
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Leaking gutter joints and downpipes
Signs you need a roof survey in Birling
A blocked gutter does more harm than it looks. Once leaves and moss block a gutter, water spills down the brickwork. Hidden gutters behind parapets and in valleys can send water indoors, particularly near trees.
We are frequently asked to look at:
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
- Worn or blocked valleys
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
Take an older house close to Church of All Saints: its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Before booking anyone
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
About our roof survey in Birling
Three packages cover most roofs: a Basic Survey from £150, a Standard Survey from £250 and a Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. The Basic Survey gives a visual inspection, photos and written recommendations. Standard and Premium go further, such as moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging and a drone where applicable. Every package includes a written report. Typical surveys look at slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles and cracked mortar along the ridge, on natural slate, clay and concrete tiles and chimney stacks.
Somewhere as small as Birling, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Birling (ME19)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings as a photo-illustrated written report. As for time on site, it typically takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, depending on how many separate roofs there are. Somewhere as small as Birling, 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 pick the package that suits your roof.
- We arrive at the agreed time and talk through any concerns.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Moisture detection, a structural check, thermal imaging or a drone are added where your package includes them.
- You get a written report with photos and clear recommendations.
Before the survey
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Booking a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
What affects the price in Birling
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The size of the roof
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Basic, Standard or Premium
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You’ll know the figure before booking.
What to let us know when you contact us
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- What made you get in touch
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Common questions in Birling
Will you come out to Birling?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Birling?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
How do I book a survey in Birling?
It’s easiest to phone 07833 053749 or email us. Give us the address and some details about the roof, and we will suggest the right survey. We survey on any day of the week.
Do you give a life expectancy for the roof?
Not as an exact number, since the fixings, underlay and maintenance all play a part. Instead, we set out what’s sound, what’s wearing and what to do first.
Can you look at a roof that’s joined to next door?
Yes. We survey the parts of the roof you have access to. If a problem seems to come from next door, we will say so.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Birling
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, with the most urgent items set out first.
Tips that help
You do not need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Hold on to the report for future surveys
- Let us know about past leaks
- Keep a record of damp patches and dates
- Stay off ladders and the roof
The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up. It shows how the roof has fared over the year, and whether work has done its job.
Every so often, look in the loft space with a torch, keeping to boarded areas. Watch for stains, damp timbers and daylight through the roof. Photograph anything new.
Also in Birling
Why act early in Birling
Leaving it means relying on what you can see from the ground. You might pay for work that does not fix the real problem, or miss the fault that matters. We tell you what’s really needed. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Birling, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details. We will confirm the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Birling
- An independent view of the roof
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Visits on any day of the week
See what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Birling
Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
Starkey Castle lies about 3.9 miles north-east, so building around Birling goes back a long way. Older homes in the area may have roofs that need matching materials when work is done. Trees in and around Leybourne Lakes Country Park shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Birling is about 6 miles south-west of Chatham, in Kent. Whether the building in Birling is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed. We cover towns and villages across Kent, large and small. There is also a page for Maidstone.
Surveys in ME19 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We offer roof surveys to properties on Ryarsh Road, Masters Lane and Bull Road. We also cover the places around Birling: Paddlesworth (1 mile north), Leybourne (1 mile south-east), Lunsford (1 mile east), Snodland (2 miles north-east) and Larkfield (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns like Maidstone (6 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (14 miles east), Dartford (12 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (10 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles south-west) and Gravesend (8 miles north).
Near you in Birling
Around Birling, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Holmesdale School, The Duke Of Wellington Public House and Leybourne Lakes Country Park and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is West Malling station, about 1.8 miles south of the centre. Nearby you will also find Leybourne Castle (1.1 miles south-east) and Maidstone Hospital (4.5 miles south-east). For a walk, there’s Blue Bell Hill and Burham Down.