Kent · London and the South East
Swanscombe Roof Survey
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Swanscombe. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Ridge tiles that have lifted or moved
- Worn or blocked valleys
- Lifted, split or missing lead flashings
Roof surveys for homes and businesses in Swanscombe
A roof survey tells you what condition your roof is in, before small faults become big ones. Slates or tiles, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters are all checked, along with the loft where it’s safe to get in. You get a written report with photos and recommendations. Where it’s relevant, the recommendations are prioritised by urgency. We are often asked to look into ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs and blocked, sagging or leaking gutters, across natural slate, the roof space and clay and concrete tiles.
Trees around homes in smaller places like Swanscombe drop leaves, twigs and moss onto roofs and into gutters. Blocked gutters overflow and soak the walls below. A report spots that kind of slow problem before it becomes damp inside. Plants growing from a gutter or moss on the tiles are signs worth noting from ground level.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Location
- Swanscombe (DA9, DA10)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney stacks
Damp on a chimney breast inside frequently starts with the stack outside. We look for the likely route in.
Clay plain and peg tiles
Older homes in the Weald and across the South East often have clay plain tiles. Rotten pegs and battens let tiles move.
What a roof survey does not cover
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- Walls, floors and services below the roof
- What’s under the slates, tiles or felt
- A promise that the roof will not leak in future
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Natural slate
- Chimney stacks
- Flat roofs
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- The roof space
- Lead flashings
- Clay and concrete tiles
What you can safely check yourself
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Common roof problems in Swanscombe
Blocked gutters cause a surprising amount of damage. Leaves, moss and silt build up, the gutter overflows and water soaks the walls. Hidden gutters behind parapets and in valleys can send water indoors, particularly near trees.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or broken
- Water stains on rafters and ceiling joists
- Blocked, sagging or leaking gutters
- Ponding, splits or blisters on flat roofs
Anyone responsible for a site like Knockhall Primary School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
What to check before booking
- Are they insured for the work?
- Is VAT included in the price?
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Which limits apply to the survey
Roof surveys in Swanscombe: local notes
Swanscombe is within about 4 miles of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof. Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. If you live near a park such as Castle Hill Park, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys.
Swanscombe is about 3 miles east of Dartford, in Kent. We visit Swanscombe as part of our work across Kent. Swanscombe is one of the towns and villages in Kent we cover for roof surveys. There’s also a page for Maidstone.
We work across the DA9 and DA10 postcode area for roof surveys. Local streets include London Road, Craylands Square and High Street, and we cover them all. Main roads around Swanscombe include the A206 and A226, so getting to you is simple. Other places close to Swanscombe include Greenhithe (1 mile north-west), Stone (1 mile west), Bean (1 mile south), West Thurrock (2 miles north) and Darenth (2 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Dartford (3 miles west), Sevenoaks (12 miles south), Gravesend (4 miles east), Northfleet (3 miles south-east), Swanley (6 miles south-west) and Kings Hill (13 miles south).
Near you in Swanscombe
We work in homes and buildings around Castle Hill Park, The Ebbsfleet Academy and The Pier Hotel. The closest station to Swanscombe is Greenhithe for Bluewater station, roughly 0.5 miles west. Nearby you will also find Stone Castle (0.7 miles south-west) and Bluewater (1 mile south-west). Open spaces near Swanscombe include Sawyers Lake and Chafford Gorges Nature Park.
What we do, step by step
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. All told, expect between one and two hours for an ordinary house roof, and longer if there are extensions, dormers or several chimneys. Homes around Swanscombe frequently have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Mention any side of the property we cannot get to. The loft, where there is safe access, completes the picture.
- We start by hearing what you’d like checked and why.
- We arrange a day that suits you, including weekends.
- The roof is inspected from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- We check the coverings, ridges, hips, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters, and photograph what we find.
- You receive a written report with photos and recommendations.
Before the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
Book a survey
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
Your questions about roof surveys in Swanscombe
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Swanscombe, take more of a battering?
It can do. Within about 4 miles of the sea, as Swanscombe is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Greenhithe for Bluewater station?
Yes, letting agents and landlords book with us as well as owners. You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos was banned in UK construction in 1999, so older buildings may have it. Our report notes any materials that might, and a specialist asbestos surveyor should check them.
Can you tell me how long my roof will last?
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.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
What does a roof survey cost?
Roof survey starts from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for your roof before booking. To get a price, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
What a survey costs
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Height and safe access
- The roof’s overall size
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Getting in touch
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- What kind of property and roof it is
- When you need the report by
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you’re ready.