Kent · London and the South East
Roof Survey in Painter's Forstal
Not sure what state the roof is in? We carry out roof surveys in Painter's Forstal and across Kent, with plain-English findings.
- Gaps in the roof where coverings have gone
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching
How a roof survey works in Painter's Forstal
Roofs vary a lot across London and South East England. A Victorian or Edwardian terrace may have slate, a central valley gutter and parapet walls, and many post-war homes have concrete interlocking tiles instead. We adapt the survey to the roof in front of us. Older tiled homes may have clay plain tiles, and many homes have a flat-roofed extension too. Each part is checked in the way that suits it. Typical surveys look at ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs and crumbling chimney pointing or cracked flaunching, on natural slate, the roof space and flat roofs.
In a small place like Painter's Forstal, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
The report records the roof as we found it on the day. It is useful straight away, and a good reference for later.
- Where
- Painter's Forstal (ME13)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey can’t tell you
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- How the roof will behave in every kind of weather
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Confirmation of asbestos in soffits or cement sheets
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Flat roofs
- The roof space
- Chimney stacks
- Natural slate
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Lead flashings
Local roofs in Painter's Forstal
Painter's Forstal is within about 5 miles of the coast, where wind off the sea can be strong. The weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead, as a small drone cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour. Where the drone is part of the survey, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first.
If you let a flat or house near Faversham station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. With Belmont House and Gardens about 1.8 miles south, the area around Painter's Forstal has a long history. If your home is one of the older ones, the roof may have been repaired many times, and the survey records how each part is holding up. Anyone responsible for a site like Ospringe Church of England Primary School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Painter's Forstal is about 2 miles south-west of Faversham, in Kent. Painter's Forstal is part of the area we cover as part of our work across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Here we cover the ME13 postcode area for roof surveys. You will find streets such as Cades Orchard, Eastling Road and Painter's Forstal Road, all of which we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for roof surveys include North Street (1 mile south-east), Sheldwich (2 miles south-east), Sheldwich Lees (2 miles south-east), Throwley (2 miles south) and Eastling (2 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns like Maidstone (14 miles west), Ashford (11 miles south), Canterbury (10 miles east), Sittingbourne (6 miles north-west), Whitstable (8 miles north-east) and Herne Bay (13 miles north-east).
What’s near Painter's Forstal
We work in homes and buildings around The Alma pub and The Abbey School, among other places. Painter's Forstal’s nearest station is Faversham station, roughly 1.8 miles north-east. Nearby you will also find Newnham Castle (2.5 miles west).
The survey, step by step
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. All told, expect roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. Cottages and farmhouses around Painter's Forstal often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- You tell us the address, the type of roof and what’s worrying you.
- We agree a date, including weekends if that suits you.
- We look at the roof from every safe vantage point outside.
- Inside, we check the loft space where there is safe access.
- You receive the report with photos and recommendations, prioritised by urgency.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Getting a price
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form to find out.
Advice
Useful tips for Painter's Forstal property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Take photos of any leaks as they happen
- File the report with your home documents
- Let us know about past leaks
- Do not climb onto the roof yourself
Any roofer you ask to quote can work from the report. They’ll see each defect and its location, which makes quotes easier to compare.
After a storm, check the roof from the garden and the street. Fragments of slate or tile on the ground mean something has shifted. Getting small faults fixed quickly keeps water out.
For landlords and managing agents
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps with budgets and planning.
Letting agents and landlords in Painter's Forstal book surveys as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the roof.
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings and valleys
Flashings close the joints where a roof meets a wall or chimney. Lifted, split or slipped lead is recorded, and for flashings replaced with mortar or bitumen.
Clay plain and peg tiles
Where tiles hang on walls or dormers, we look at them too. Loose or missing tiles there let rain into the wall.
Why get it checked now?
Many roofs go years without anyone looking at them closely. Our report gives you a record of how the roof is today, which makes later changes easy to spot. Around Painter's Forstal, older homes frequently have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, including VAT. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What you get with us
- Surveys seven days a week
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
See what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Common questions in Painter's Forstal
Will you come out to Painter's Forstal?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Is the coastal weather around Painter's Forstal hard on roofs?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Will the report say how many years my roof has left?
Not as an exact number, because so much depends on the fixings, underlay and upkeep. Instead, we set out what’s sound, what’s wearing and what to do first.
What do you check on a roof survey?
We check the coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, along with the loft where it is safe. You get a written report with photos and recommendations.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos testing isn’t part of our service. Where materials might contain it, we say so in the report so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before any work.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. We’ll talk about access when booking.
Do you use drones?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.