Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Bessels Green, Kent
We take a careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Bessels Green, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Signs that a stack is leaning
How a chimney survey works in Bessels Green
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and the flashings at the roof line. We also look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access. You get a written report with photos and our recommendations. We survey single stacks on houses and groups of stacks on bigger buildings. We survey chimney breasts, lead flashings and brick chimney stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are damp on a chimney breast inside and pots or cowls that look unsafe.
In a small place like Bessels Green, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Where
- Bessels Green (TN13, TN14)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Bessels Green homes and their roofs
Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Historic houses like Knole House, about 2.2 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around Bessels Green goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Trees in and around Montreal Park shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall. The streets around a church such as Chapel of the Good Shepherd are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. If you own a rental within reach of Sevenoaks station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Bessels Green is about 1 mile west of Sevenoaks, in Kent. Roofs in Bessels Green get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Kent. Our area takes in places right across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
We survey roofs across TN13 and TN14 for chimney surveys and the streets around it. If you need a chimney survey at a property on High Street, Witches Lane and Cranmer Road or a nearby road, we can help. If you are just outside Bessels Green, we cover Chipstead (1 mile north-west), Riverhead (1 mile north-east), Kippington (1 mile south-east), Dunton Green (1 mile north-east) and Sevenoaks (1 mile east). Larger places within reach include Dartford (12 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (11 miles south-east), Gravesend (14 miles north-east), Tonbridge (8 miles south-east), Northfleet (13 miles north-east) and Swanley (8 miles north).
What’s near Bessels Green
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Montreal Park, New Beacon School and The King's Head Public House. Bessels Green’s nearest station is Sevenoaks station, roughly 1 mile east. Other landmarks nearby include Kemsing Castle Bank (3.6 miles north-east) and Sevenoaks Hospital (1.7 miles east). The countryside around Bessels Green includes Betsom's Hill and Dryhill Nature Reserve.
What you can safely check yourself
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
How it works
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. In total, it takes between one and two hours for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Somewhere as small as Bessels Green, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We check every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Arrange a survey
When you are ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or email us. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Advice
Towns and villages near Bessels Green
What else we do in Bessels Green
Your questions about chimney surveys in Bessels Green
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Bessels Green?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you cover smaller places like Bessels Green?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
How much does a chimney survey cost in Bessels Green?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT.
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, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. It isn’t a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
Have it checked rather than leaving it. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down. The survey records what we can see, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it is stable.
What will the report tell me?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos. Points are put in order of urgency where relevant.
How the survey changes by roof type
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. Caught early, it’s frequently a small job.
Lead flashings
Mortar fillets are sometimes used where lead would usually be. They tend to crack, so we check them closely.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Bessels Green
Before deciding what to do with a redundant stack, a survey shows how it’s doing. Changes to stacks in conservation areas or on listed buildings may need consent and the council can advise. Matching old materials, like handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, with VAT included.
Why book with us
- An independent view of the roof
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Visits on any day of the week
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
Read what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
What a chimney survey does not cover
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Conditions inside walls
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts