Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Barham, Kent
A careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Barham, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
Practical tips
Small things make a difference. Our tips:
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. That helps stop damp building up inside.
About our chimney survey in Barham
A chimney survey is about the outside of the stack and the roof around it. It’s not a flue inspection, a chimney sweep or a gas safety inspection. For the flue itself, you will need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. We will tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. We survey flaunching, chimney pots and cowls and chimney breasts, and common reasons people get in touch are redundant stacks capped without ventilation and a stack that appears to lean.
Older buildings in small places like Barham may be listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Older materials like clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Barham (CT4)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How we price chimney surveys
To price your survey, we look at:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- House, block, shop or office
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Booking your survey
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, it is useful to mention:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Barham
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
Letting agents and landlords in Barham book surveys as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the chimney stack.
Common questions in Barham
I let a flat near Snowdown station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details, including who will give access on the day.
How do I find out if my home in Barham is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
How much does a chimney survey cost in Barham?
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose, confirmed before anything is booked.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. Shared stacks are common on terraced and semi-detached houses. We record the stack as far as we can see it and flag anything on the neighbour’s side.
How the survey changes by roof type
Brick stacks
Frost can damage bricks that have soaked up water, making the faces flake away. We record any we can see.
Chimney breasts and the loft
If a chimney breast has been removed below, we note what we can see of the support above. Confirming the support is a job for a structural engineer.
The survey, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photographs as we go and record our findings for the written report. It normally takes about 1–2 hours at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Older rural homes like those around Barham can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Booking a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.
Read more
Other services in Barham
Why get it checked now?
Cracked flaunching and worn pointing are often modest repairs when they’re caught early. Leave it, and frost can work the stack loose and the job gets bigger. Older and listed buildings around Barham may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why book with us
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- An independent look at the roof
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Chimney surveys around Barham
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. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. With Goodnestone Park about 3.9 miles north-east, Barham sits in an area with a long building history. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you look after a building like Barham Church of England Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle. If you live near a park like Jumping Downs, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching. If you let a flat or house near Snowdown station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Barham is about 6 miles south-east of Canterbury, in Kent. We carry out chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Barham and nearby. Our area takes in places right across Kent. There is also a page for Canterbury.
Surveys in CT4 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a chimney survey at a property on The Street, Valley Road and Church Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. If you’re just outside Barham, we cover Derringstone (1 mile south), Gravel Castle (1 mile south-east), Heart's Delight (1 mile south-west), Out Elmstead (1 mile north) and Kingston (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (13 miles west), Canterbury (6 miles north-west), Margate (15 miles north-east), Dover (8 miles south-east), Folkestone (8 miles south) and Ramsgate (14 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Barham
Typical jobs here are in homes near Jumping Downs and Black Robin Public House and the streets around them. The closest station to Barham is Snowdown station, about 2.4 miles east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Kent and Canterbury Hospital (5.1 miles north-west).