Trusted Roofer In Charing

Charing sits at the foot of the North Downs scarp in east Kent, where roofs face more wind and frost than salt. Westerly and south-westerly autumn gales sweep down off the chalk uplands with little to break them, testing ridge tiles, slate clips and chimney pointing on exposed properties. The village’s location below the scarp also creates a frost pocket in cold winters, which lifts cracked pointing and flashing. Salt-related corrosion is not a factor this far inland.

Yes. Charing has a designated conservation area covering the historic village around the High Street and Archbishop’s Palace ruins, with listed buildings throughout. The village sits within the Kent Downs National Landscape. Conservation area rules and listed building consent are the homeowner’s responsibility and can restrict roof shape, slope, tile material and rooflight placement. We recommend checking with Ashford Borough Council’s planning team before any roof work begins, and we will work to whatever specification the council approves.

Charing’s older housing runs to Kent ragstone, brick and timber-framed cottages with clay-tile or peg-tile pitched roofs. Victorian and Edwardian additions typically use clay tile or natural slate. Newer estate housing on the village edges and along the A20 corridor uses concrete interlocking tiles, with hot melt or EPDM on flat extensions and garages. Many older roofs use heavy clay peg tiles that need careful matching when replaced. Each comes with a different maintenance pattern.

After a strong westerly off the Downs, look for slipped, cracked or missing tiles, dislodged ridge or hip tiles, fallen branches across roof slopes, leaf-fall and debris in valley gutters, and damp patches on top-floor ceilings or chimney breasts. Lifted lead flashing around chimneys is a common storm casualty on older Charing properties. If you spot anything, get it covered or assessed before the next weather front arrives.

Yes. We carry full public liability and employer’s liability insurance for every project we take on, and we can provide a current certificate on request before work starts.

Warranties depend on the roof system and the material used. Most pitched roof installations come with a workmanship warranty from us and a separate manufacturer’s warranty on the tiles, slates or membrane. We confirm the exact warranty terms in writing as part of your quote so you know what’s covered before any work begins.

Pitched roofs sit at an angle so rain runs off naturally, suit traditional tile or slate finishes, and tend to last longest on UK homes. Flat roofs are level or near-level, are usually finished in hot melt, EPDM or felt, and are most common on extensions, garages, dormers and some modern builds. Each needs a different approach to drainage, insulation and inspection.

A professional inspection once a year is a sensible baseline for any UK roof, with an extra check after any major storm or unusually heavy rain. Catching slipped tiles, blocked valleys or weakening flashing early is almost always cheaper than dealing with the water damage that follows.

For safety reasons we would always recommend calling a professional. Working at height on a wet roof is one of the most common causes of serious DIY injury in the UK, and the source of a leak is rarely where the water shows up indoors. A proper diagnosis usually saves money in the long run and stops the same problem returning the next time it rains.

Yes. We install sedum and biodiverse green roofs on suitable flat or low-pitch structures, and we work with recycled-content membranes, FSC-certified timber and salvageable slate or tile where possible. Green roofs add insulation, slow rainwater run-off and can support local biodiversity, which makes them a strong fit for urban roofing projects.