Kent · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Brattle
Independent chimney surveys in Brattle. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Flaunching that has broken away
- A stack that appears to lean
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
What we’re asked to look at in Brattle
Many chimneys are no longer used. If a stack is capped or blocked without ventilation, moisture can build up inside. That can lead to damp patches on chimney breasts, even with the roof in good order.
Look out for signs like these:
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Woodchurch Church of England Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Questions to ask before booking
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Whether you get a written report with photos
About our chimney survey in Brattle
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it. If you’ve noticed loose, cracked or missing pots and damp on a chimney breast inside, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on flaunching, chimney breasts and lead flashings alike.
In a village or hamlet like Brattle, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often 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. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
If any part of the chimney stack couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Brattle (TN26)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes roughly 1–2 hours for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a hamlet or village like Brattle, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- 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.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Before the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Booking a survey
When you are ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Advice
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Brattle
With Smallhythe Place about 4.1 miles south-west, Brattle sits in an area with a long building history. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. 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. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
If you let a flat or house near Appledore (Kent) station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. For an older house near a landmark such as Parish Church of All Saints, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Brattle is about 6 miles south-west of Ashford, in Kent. We survey roofs in Brattle across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Kent, large and small. Our Maidstone page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in TN26 is within our area for chimney surveys. We cover properties on Front Road, Lower Road and Appledore Road and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Brattle: Woodchurch (1 mile north), Brook Street (1 mile west), Shirkoak (1 mile north), Appledore Heath (2 miles south) and Reading Street (3 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (6 miles north-east), Hythe (13 miles east), Tenterden (4 miles west), Park Wood (15 miles north-west), Kennington (8 miles north-east) and New Romney (9 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Brattle
We work in homes and buildings around Stonebridge Inn, among other places. The nearest railway station is Appledore (Kent) station, about 3.1 miles south-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Woodchurch Village Life Museum (1 mile north-west). Open spaces near Brattle include Orlestone Forest.
Why act early in Brattle
Cracked flaunching and worn pointing are often modest repairs when they’re caught early. Left for a few winters, frost and water can loosen pots and bricks, and the work grows. Around Brattle, older homes frequently have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
For a price for your roof in Brattle, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why book us in Brattle
- 20+ years’ experience
- Clear package prices, including VAT
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- A report with photos
Read our cost guide and our case studies.
Nearby places to Brattle
Also in Brattle
Brattle questions
How do I find out if my home in Brattle is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
I let a flat near Appledore (Kent) station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details, including who will give access on the day.
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 it applies. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
Do you look in the loft space?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there is safe access. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs like sagging are noted, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
What’s in the report?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, and ends with what we recommend. The most urgent items are made clear.
What a chimney survey does not cover
A survey is a proper look at the chimney stack, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Conditions inside walls
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
Surveys for landlords and agents in Brattle
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney breasts and the loft
Where a breast has been taken out, we look at what supports the stack. A structural engineer should confirm whether it’s adequate.
Brick stacks
Most chimney stacks are built of brick, with mortar joints that wear over time. We check the bricks for spalling and the joints for erosion.