Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Barfrestone, Kent
Chimney surveys in Barfrestone and the rest of Kent. Surveys run on any day of the week.
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Signs that a stack is leaning
How a chimney survey works in Barfrestone
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is often shared with next door. We check whatever is safely visible and what the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it, so you can talk to them. You get a report with photos and our recommendations. Common reasons to book are eroded joints in the brickwork and a chimney out of line, on chimney pots and cowls, shared and party-wall stacks and flaunching.
Somewhere as small as Barfrestone, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are frequently old. We report on what can safely be seen, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it’s normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
Where we cannot see part of the chimney stack, the report says so. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Barfrestone (CT15)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
If anything in the report is not clear, just ask us. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one.
Check fixings on the stack are sound and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Less load on the stack means less strain in wind.
Why act early in Barfrestone
Loose pots and bricks on a stack are a safety concern. Finding them early means they can be dealt with before they come down by a suitable contractor. In a place like Barfrestone, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why us?
- Package prices that include VAT
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- An independent look at the roof
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
Take a look at our cost guide and our case studies.
Common roof problems in Barfrestone
Aerials and dishes are frequently fixed to stacks. The extra load in wind can work bricks and joints loose. We check fixings on the stack as part of the survey.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Worn or missing pointing
Anyone responsible for a site like Eythorne Elvington Community Primary School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Before booking anyone
- What exactly goes into their report
- What happens after the report arrives
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
Can I check my roof myself?
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Barfrestone
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Shepherds Well station?
Of course. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
How do I find out if my home in Barfrestone is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
We use safe viewpoints rather than climbing onto the stack. A drone inspection is part of the Premium Survey where applicable. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
What does the report include?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos. The most urgent items are made clear.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Our survey is not a structural engineer’s report, and it does not include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
It depends on its condition and your plans. The survey shows its condition and how it’s been capped. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need consent.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In strong wind or a downpour, a drone can’t fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps when budgeting.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
Chimney surveys around Barfrestone
The wider area around Barfrestone has a long history of building, with Goodnestone Park about 2.7 miles north. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
For landlords with property near Shepherds Well station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. If you live in an older home near Church of St Nicholas, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Barfrestone is about 5 miles north-west of Dover, in Kent. Roofs in Barfrestone get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Kent. Our area takes in places right across Kent, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Canterbury page.
Chimney surveys in CT15 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you’re just outside Barfrestone, we cover Frogham (1 mile north-west), Elvington (1 mile east), Nonington (1 mile north-west), Snowdown (2 miles north-west) and Woolage Village (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (9 miles north-west), Margate (14 miles north-east), Dover (5 miles south-east), Folkestone (9 miles south), Ramsgate (12 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (14 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Barfrestone
The closest station to Barfrestone is Shepherds Well station, roughly 1.3 miles south-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Buckland Hospital (5.5 miles south-east).
The survey, step by step
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. Most surveys take about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Older rural homes like those around Barfrestone can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We check every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Book a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.