Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Bredgar, Kent
Need a chimney survey in Bredgar? We can help, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
About our chimney survey in Bredgar
Chimney stacks take more weather than almost any other part of a house. Over the years, the flaunching cracks, the pointing wears and flashings lift. That lets water into the brickwork, which can show up as damp on a chimney breast or in the roof space. A survey finds these problems and records them with photos. Common reasons to book are a chimney out of line and gaps where the stack meets the roof, across brick chimney stacks, flaunching and chimney breasts.
In a village or hamlet like Bredgar, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. 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’s typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- Bredgar (ME9)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Why act early in Bredgar
Most people never get a careful look at their chimney stacks. Problems often go unnoticed until damp appears inside. A survey gives you a clear picture before that happens. In a small place like Bredgar, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we will tell you which fits.
Why book us in Bredgar
- Visits on any day of the week
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Every finding written up with photos
- An independent view of the roof
Read our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
Honest limits
A survey is a proper look at the chimney stack, but it can’t do everything. Its limits include:
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll point you to the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
Roof by roof
Chimney breasts and the loft
In the loft, staining around the stack often shows where water is getting in. We record what we see with photos.
Lead flashings
Mortar fillets are sometimes used where lead would usually be. They tend to crack, so we check them closely.
Places near Bredgar
Also in Bredgar
How the survey works
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. Most visits take between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. In a hamlet or village like Bredgar, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, 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.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
How to prepare
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Arrange a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Advice
Common roof problems in Bredgar
A stack takes the weather from every direction. Frost works into cracks in the flaunching and pointing, and rain soaks into worn brickwork. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- A stack that appears to lean
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Cracked or missing flaunching
Anyone responsible for a site like Bredgar Church of England Primary School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
What to check before booking
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Which limits apply to the survey
- How soon the report will arrive
FAQs for Bredgar
Will you come out to Bredgar?
Yes, Bredgar is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Bredgar, take more of a battering?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Are you insured?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
How do I arrange a chimney survey in Bredgar?
It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or email us. Give us the address and a few details about the roof, and we will point you to the right survey. Surveys run seven days a week.
How long will you be at the property?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof; most visits take between one and two hours for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. The written report follows by email.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
Useful tips for Bredgar property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Check your stacks from the ground after strong winds
If anything in the report isn’t clear, just ask us. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
What a chimney survey looks like in Bredgar
The coast is about 5 miles or less from Bredgar, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles, while driving rain finds any gap. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Whatever the covering, it’s often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
If you live in an older home near Church of St John the Baptist, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. Living close to Cromers Wood is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Bredgar is about 3 miles south-west of Sittingbourne, in Kent. Bredgar is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Bredgar is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
We work across ME9 for chimney surveys. If you need a chimney survey at a property on The Street, Medlar Close and Primrose Lane or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to Bredgar include Silver Street (1 mile west), Oad Street (1 mile north-west), South Green (2 miles west), Danaway (2 miles north-west) and Chestnut Street (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (8 miles south-west), Ashford (14 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (3 miles north-east), Whitstable (15 miles east), Faversham (8 miles east) and Minster (9 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Bredgar
Typical jobs here are in homes near Westlands School and Cromers Wood and the streets around them. The closest station to Bredgar is Sittingbourne station, about 2.6 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Sittingbourne Heritage Museum (2.7 miles north-east) and Bayford Court (2.9 miles north-east). For a walk, there’s Detling Hill.