Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Bishopsbourne, Kent
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Bishopsbourne, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Bishopsbourne
The wider area around Bishopsbourne has a long history of building, with Goodnestone Park about 4.1 miles east. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary: its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Bishopsbourne is about 4 miles south-east of Canterbury, in Kent. Bookings from Bishopsbourne are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. We cover towns and villages across Kent, large and small.
Chimney surveys in CT4 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include The Street, Park Lane and Crows Camp Road, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Kingston (1 mile south-east), Bridge (1 mile north), Out Elmstead (1 mile south-east), Marley (1 mile south) and Patrixbourne (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (13 miles south-west), Canterbury (4 miles north-west), Margate (15 miles north-east), Dover (10 miles south-east), Folkestone (10 miles south) and Ramsgate (14 miles north-east).
Around Bishopsbourne
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Mermaid Inn, among other places. Bishopsbourne’s nearest station is Bekesbourne station, roughly 2.2 miles north. Other landmarks nearby include Canterbury Castle (4.1 miles north-west) and Kent and Canterbury Hospital (3.2 miles north-west).
How a chimney survey works in Bishopsbourne
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It is 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. If you’ve noticed mortar washing out of the joints and staining on walls around the chimney, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like Bishopsbourne, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it is typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
The report records the chimney stack as we found it on the day. It is useful straight away, and a good reference for later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Bishopsbourne (CT4)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
We check the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey typically takes between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Rural addresses near Bishopsbourne can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach them.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
Book a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
Advice
What affects the price in Bishopsbourne
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
To find out what your survey will cost, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the roof. We will confirm the figure before booking.
Helping us price your survey
A few details help us point you to the right survey and price. When you contact us, let us know:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Bishopsbourne
Landlords, agents and building managers in Bishopsbourne and across Kent can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Bishopsbourne
Is Bishopsbourne within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Bekesbourne station?
Yes, that’s a common request. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. If it is capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. Our survey records its condition and how it’s capped, so you can plan what to do with it.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
We look from the ground, from windows and from the loft where it is safe. A drone inspection is part of the Premium Survey where applicable. Any area we couldn’t view is noted.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Normally it is water getting in from outside, or condensation in a sealed stack. The survey looks at the stack, the flashings and the capping and records the likely cause.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
What happens after the survey?
The report arrives by email. With Standard there’s a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Do you need a chimney survey in Bishopsbourne?
Some owners book because a chimney breast has been removed below and they want to know about the stack above. We record what we can see in the loft and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
Landlords with a home close to Bekesbourne station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Their insurance cover
- Which limits apply to the survey
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Nearby places to Bishopsbourne
Other services in Bishopsbourne
Honest limits
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will suggest the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks