Kent · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Fordwich
Find out what’s going on with the roof before you spend money on it. Roof surveys in Fordwich.
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
- Leaking gutter joints and downpipes
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
About our roof survey in Fordwich
Roof coverings last a long time, but not for ever. Natural slate can last 100 years or more, and clay and concrete tiles commonly 50 years or more, yet nails, battens and underlay often fail first. We tell you which parts are ageing and which are sound. Knowing that helps you plan work before it becomes urgent. If you’ve noticed cracked mortar along the ridge and lifted, split or missing lead flashings, we can find out what’s behind it, on chimney stacks, ridges, hips and valleys and clay and concrete tiles alike.
Somewhere as small as Fordwich, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often 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.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Place
- Fordwich (CT2)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
How it works
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes about 1–2 hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. Older rural homes like those around Fordwich can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We start with the property details and any concerns.
- A visit is booked for a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We look at the roof from every safe vantage point outside.
- We then look in the loft for damp, staining and the condition of the underlay.
- We email a report with photographs and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Booking a survey
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
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Why get it checked now?
Leaks rarely show up straight away. Damp spreads through insulation and timber before anything shows below. From inside the loft space, we can frequently spot it sooner. In a place like Fordwich, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we can help you choose.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Fordwich
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
Roof surveys in Fordwich: local notes
Older houses across Kent frequently have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. If the drone is used for your survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
If you let a flat or house near Sturry station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. If you live near a park like Chequer's Wood and Old Park, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Fordwich is about 2 miles north-east of Canterbury, in Kent. Bookings from Fordwich are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Fordwich is one of the places in Kent where we work for roof surveys.
All of CT2 is within our area for roof surveys. If you need a roof survey at a property on Brooklands Close, Water Meadows and King Street or a nearby road, we can survey it. Other places close to Fordwich include Littlebourne (2 miles south-east), Bekesbourne Hill (2 miles south), Wickhambreaux (3 miles east), Ickham (3 miles south-east) and Patrixbourne (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Margate (13 miles north-east), Dover (13 miles south-east), Folkestone (15 miles south), Ramsgate (13 miles east), Broadstairs (14 miles east) and Whitstable (6 miles north-west).
What’s near Fordwich
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Frank Montgomery School, Chequer's Wood and Old Park and Fordwich Arms, among other places. There is a railway station in Fordwich itself: Sturry station. Nearby you will also find Whitefriars Shopping Centre (2.4 miles south-west) and St Martins Hospital (1.5 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
Fordwich questions
Is my home in Fordwich listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is Fordwich within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Do you carry out asbestos surveys?
No. Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999, so older buildings may have it. We flag materials that could contain it, and recommends a specialist asbestos surveyor looks at them.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, so it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Each report includes photographs.
Signs you need a roof survey in Fordwich
Weather is the main thing that wears a roof down. Wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, while rain gets into every gap. Small faults that start this way grow over time.
Problems we come across often include:
- Torn or sagging underlay
- Leaning or weathered chimney stacks
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain
For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Mary the Virgin, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Questions to ask before booking
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Whether you get a written report with photos
Nearby places to Fordwich
Also in Fordwich
Tips from our surveys
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Check the roof from the ground after storms
- Gather any paperwork for past roof work
- Tell us about any leaks or stains you’ve seen
- Do not climb onto the roof yourself
File the report with your other home documents. It is a useful baseline for future surveys, and buyers may ask about the roof when you sell.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. A stuffy loft collects condensation, and it can wet timbers and insulation. Keep insulation clear of eaves vents.
How the survey changes by roof type
Clay plain and peg tiles
Clay tiles commonly last 50 years or more. Slipped, cracked and missing tiles are recorded, and for spalling where the surface has flaked.
Chimney stacks
Water that gets into a stack can show as damp in the rooms below. We check the flashings and mortar for the cause.