Kent · London and the South East
Roof survey in Leybourne, Kent
Independent roof surveys in Leybourne. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Torn or sagging underlay
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
What we do, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It normally takes about 1–2 hours for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Cottages and farmhouses around Leybourne frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- You let us know about the property and any concerns.
- We agree a date, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We look at the roof from every safe vantage point, inside and out.
- Slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are all examined and photographed.
- Your report arrives by email, with recommendations prioritised by urgency.
Getting ready for the survey
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Getting a price
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before booking.
Related advice
About our roof survey in Leybourne
There are three levels of survey: a Basic Survey from £150, a Standard Survey from £250 and a Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT. The Basic Survey gives a visual inspection, photos and written recommendations. The higher packages add more checks, with moisture detection and a structural check, and on Premium, thermal imaging and a drone where it applies. Each one comes with a written report. We survey chimney stacks, natural slate and ridges, hips and valleys, and common reasons people get in touch are valley linings that have cracked or split and loose chimney pots.
In a village or hamlet like Leybourne, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few 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. On older roofs, it is usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Place
- Leybourne (ME19, ME20)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a roof survey looks like in Leybourne
If your survey includes the drone, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Peter and St Paul, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. If you live near a park like Leybourne Lakes Country Park, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Leybourne is about 5 miles north-west of Maidstone, in Kent. Wherever you are in Leybourne, we can carry out roof surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. We cover towns and villages across Kent.
Roof surveys in ME19 and ME20 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We cover properties on London Road, Oxley Shaw Lane and Redbank and the roads around them. Close by, we survey roofs in Larkfield (1 mile east), Lunsford (1 mile north-east), New Hythe (1 mile north-east), Birling (1 mile north-west) and Snodland (2 miles north). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (5 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (14 miles east), Dartford (13 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (10 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (13 miles south-west) and Gravesend (9 miles north).
Around Leybourne
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Malling School, Leybourne Lakes Country Park and The Malling School and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is West Malling station, about 0.7 miles south-west of the centre. A little further out are Leybourne Castle (under half a mile north-west) and Coldrum Long Barrow (2.7 miles north-west). The countryside around Leybourne includes Burham Down and Blue Bell Hill.
Leybourne questions
How do I find out if my home in Leybourne is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near West Malling station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details.
Can you inspect a terraced or semi-detached roof?
Yes. We survey the parts of the roof you have access to. Where a defect looks to be on the neighbour’s side, the report says so.
How long does the visit take?
On site, it normally takes about 1–2 hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. Report times depend on the package.
Does a roof survey replace a structural engineer?
No. Where we see something that needs a structural engineer, the report says so. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report.
What’s the best way to book?
It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or email us. Let us know the address and a little about the roof, and we’ll take it from there. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
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.
Checking the roof from ground level
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
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.
What this survey cannot tell you
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Walls, floors and services below the roof
- Whether materials contain asbestos (that needs a specialist asbestos surveyor)
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will recommend the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Leybourne
- Lead flashings
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- The roof space
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Flat roofs
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
Tips from our surveys
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Take photos of any leaks as they happen
- Ask about a flat roof on an extension or garage too
- Find records of any re-roofing or repairs
- Let us know about past leaks
The recommendations are prioritised by urgency where relevant. Some things need prompt attention, others can be planned for. It makes the next steps much clearer.
Keep gutters, valleys and outlets clear of leaves and moss, ideally after the leaves have fallen. Use a gutter contractor rather than climbing a ladder yourself. Clear gutters prevent a lot of damp.
Why act early in Leybourne
A roof that has had no attention for years can surprise you. A survey sets a baseline, which makes later changes easy to spot. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Leybourne, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Leybourne
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
Read what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
What we’re asked to look at in Leybourne
Every roof takes years of rain, wind, sun and frost. Strong gusts work at anything that is not firmly fixed, while rain gets into every gap. Small faults that start this way grow over time.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Worn or blocked valleys
- Cracked mortar along the ridge
- Loose chimney pots
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
Starkey Castle lies about 4.5 miles north, so building around Leybourne goes back a long way. On a period home nearby, the survey separates sound original work from tired later repairs.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether the price includes VAT