Kent · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Brandfold
Chimney surveys around Brandfold, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings
Flashings can lift in wind or pull out of their mortar joints. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.
Flaunching
Flaunching is the mortar on top of a stack that holds the pots and sheds water. Once it cracks, water can get straight into the brickwork.
About our chimney survey in Brandfold
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is often shared with next door. We look at what can safely be seen and what the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it and you can then discuss it with them. You get a written report with photos and our recommendations. If you’ve noticed signs that a stack is leaning and bricks with flaking faces, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In a small place like Brandfold, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Where
- Brandfold (TN17)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Brandfold
Also in Brandfold
What we can’t see
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will recommend the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
FAQs for Brandfold
I let a flat near Marden station. Can you check the roof?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
How do I find out if my home in Brandfold is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from whoever owns or manages the building. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Do you need to go on the roof to check the chimney?
We look from the ground, from windows and from the loft where it’s safe. A drone inspection is part of the Premium Survey where it applies. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report.
What happens on the day
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings as a written report with photos, sent to you by email. On timing, it normally takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Older roofs in small places like Brandfold can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You let us know how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can be seen safely.
- Every part we can see is checked: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access.
- You get a written report with photos and our recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Keep pets in another room
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Getting a price
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Brandfold 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. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. With Scotney Castle about 3.5 miles south-west, Brandfold sits in an area with a long building history. 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.
The streets around a church like St Mary's Church are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. If you let a flat or house near Marden station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Brandfold is about 8 miles east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. We cover Brandfold and the rest of Kent. We cover towns and villages across Kent. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
We survey roofs across the TN17 postcode area for chimney surveys. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Gore Lane and Lidwells Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Broad Ford (1 mile west), Capel Cross (1 mile north-west), Goudhurst (1 mile south), Smallbridge (1 mile south-west) and Horsmonden (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Maidstone (10 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (8 miles west), Tonbridge (9 miles north-west), Kings Hill (10 miles north), Foley Park (11 miles north) and Paddock Wood (5 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Brandfold
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Gill. For rail, the closest station is Marden station, roughly 3.4 miles north. Nearby you’ll also find Finchcocks Musical Museum (2.4 miles south-west) and Old Scotney Castle (3.5 miles south-west).
Landlord and commercial surveys in Brandfold
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Tell us about it as you book and we’ll plan the survey around it.
What a survey costs
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before you book.
What to tell us when you get in touch
Some details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you contact us, let us know:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- When you need the report by
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
When to book a survey in Brandfold
Where a chimney meets the roof, lead flashings keep water out. With age they can lift, split or come away from the joints. When flashings fail, water often shows up in the loft or on the chimney breast. Lead is also a target for theft.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- A stack that appears to lean
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
Living close to The Gill is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Questions to ask before you book
- How soon the report will arrive
- What experience they bring
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What follow-up you get after the report