Kent · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Kemsing
A roof condition survey for homes and buildings in Kemsing. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Leaking gutter joints and downpipes
- Slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles
- Lifted, split or missing lead flashings
Roof survey in Kemsing: what you get
Our roof surveys cover Kemsing and the wider South East. Visits run seven days a week. We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance. You get a written report by email, with photos and clear recommendations. Whether it is a house, a flat or a commercial building, the process is the same. When you’re ready to book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Typical surveys look at crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching and loose ridge or hip tiles, on clay and concrete tiles, natural slate and lead flashings.
Around Kemsing, older cottages sit alongside bungalows and newer houses. Older roofs can have slate, clay tiles or other traditional coverings, while many later ones have concrete tiles. On older homes, chimney stacks, valleys and gutters are typically where the work is. The fixings under an older roof often fail before good slates or tiles do.
We write the report in plain English, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Photos show what each point refers to.
- Location
- Kemsing (TN15)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Flat roof coverings
Felt flat roofs frequently last around 15 to 20 years, while EPDM rubber frequently lasts 30 to 50 years and GRP up to about 30. We look at how the covering is wearing.
Lead flashings and valleys
Most leaks begin at a joint rather than the middle of a slope. That’s why we look at them closely.
When to book a survey in Kemsing
Slates and tiles often outlast the fixings that hold them. ‘Nail fatigue’ is common on slate roofs: the nails rust and the slates slide. On tiled roofs, battens and pegs can rot.
Problems we come across often include:
- Lifted, split or missing lead flashings
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
- Loose ridge or hip tiles
- Slipped, cracked or missing slates and tiles
Living close to Kemsing Down is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
The survey, step by step
The visit has one job: to see as much of the roof as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit normally takes between one and two hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. In a smaller place like Kemsing, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. On bungalows and lower roofs, much can be seen from the ground, with the loft showing the underside, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where applicable.
- We help you choose a Basic, Standard or Premium Survey.
- On the day, we start by hearing what you’ve noticed.
- Coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are inspected and photographed.
- Extra checks are carried out where your package includes them.
- The report is emailed with findings and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
Getting a price
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.
Related advice
What this survey can’t tell you
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- A promise that the roof will not leak in future
- The condition of the rest of the building (that’s a RICS home survey)
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Kemsing
- Lead flashings
- Flat roofs
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
DIY checks: what’s safe
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Roof surveys in Kemsing: local notes
Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Older houses across Kent often 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 your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. With Knole House about 2.8 miles south, the area around Kemsing has a long history. On a period home nearby, the survey separates sound original work from tired later repairs.
Kemsing is about 2 miles north-east of Sevenoaks, in Kent. Surveys in Kemsing work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful look at whatever is safely visible, photos and a clear written report. Across Kent, we cover Kemsing. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Surveys in TN15 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Whether your property is on High Street, Copperfields Walk and Childsbridge Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover Cotman's Ash (1 mile north-east), Heaverham (2 miles east), Woodlands (2 miles north-east), Romney Street (2 miles north) and Knatts Valley (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (14 miles east), Dartford (9 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (12 miles south), Gravesend (11 miles north-east), Tonbridge (8 miles south) and Northfleet (10 miles north-east).
Near you in Kemsing
Typical jobs here are in homes near St Michael's Preparatory School, Knole Academy and Kemsing Down. Kemsing’s nearest station is Otford station, roughly 1 mile north-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Kemsing Castle Bank (0.5 miles east) and Otford Heritage Centre (1 mile west). Green spaces nearby include Dryhill Nature Reserve.
Practical tips
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Clear the loft hatch area before we arrive
- Keep a record of damp patches and dates
- Stay off ladders and the roof
- Watch for slipped slates after bad weather
The Premium Survey includes a 12-month follow-up. It helps you see whether anything has changed.
Don’t block the vents at the eaves. Condensation builds up when air cannot move, which can dampen timbers and insulation over time. Make sure insulation does not block the airflow at the eaves.
Nearby places to Kemsing
Also in Kemsing
Questions from Kemsing
Is Kemsing within the area you cover?
Yes, Kemsing is covered. Our area covers London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
How do I find out if my home in Kemsing is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you inspect the roof from on top?
Only when it’s safe. We also use views from the ground, windows and the loft space, and Premium includes a drone where applicable.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you when you book.
What insurance do you have?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
How long will you be at the property?
On site, it normally takes roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Report times depend on the package.
What does a roof survey include?
We check the coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, plus the roof space where there’s safe access. You get a report with photos and recommendations.