Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Coldharbour, Kent
Need a chimney survey in Coldharbour? We can help, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
How a chimney survey works in Coldharbour
We inspect chimneys from wherever they can safely be seen: from ground level, from windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there’s access. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where it applies. Where part of a stack can’t be seen, the report says so. Every defect we find is photographed and described in plain words. If you’ve noticed lifted or split lead flashings and damp on a chimney breast inside, we can find out what’s behind it, on lead flashings, chimney breasts and brick chimney stacks alike.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. 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. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, and recommendations are put by urgency where it matters.
- Where
- Coldharbour (TN11)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Do you need a chimney survey in Coldharbour?
The flaunching on top of a stack holds the pots in place and sheds water. Cracked flaunching lets water in, and each winter makes it worse. Loose pots can follow.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Bricks with flaking faces
If you look after a building like St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
What to check before booking
- Will the report include photos?
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Are they insured for the work?
Prices for chimney surveys in Coldharbour
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we can help you choose.
Getting in touch
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- What kind of property and roof it is
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- The address and postcode of the property
When you’re ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Local roofs in Coldharbour
Historic houses such as Ightham Mote, about 2.2 miles north, show how far back building in the area around Coldharbour 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. Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
If you let a flat or house near Hildenborough station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. Take an older house close to Parish Church of St John: corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Coldharbour is about 2 miles north of Tonbridge, in Kent. We provide chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Coldharbour and nearby. Our area takes in places right across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
Every address in TN11 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We also cover the places around Coldharbour: Hildenborough (1 mile south-west), Hilden Park (1 mile south), Watt's Cross (1 mile west), Budds (1 mile north) and Stocks Green (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (12 miles east), Dartford (15 miles north), Sevenoaks (5 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (6 miles south), Gravesend (15 miles north) and Northfleet (15 miles north).
What’s near Coldharbour
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Hugh Christie Technology College and The Flying Dutchman Public House, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Hildenborough station, about 1.6 miles south-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Tonbridge Castle (2.2 miles south) and The Milne Museum (2 miles south). The countryside around Coldharbour includes Tudeley Woods RSPB reserve and Barden Lake.
Nearby places to Coldharbour
More services for Coldharbour
What happens on the day
When we arrive, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. After that, we check everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where it applies. Most surveys take between one and two hours on an ordinary house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In a small place like Coldharbour, access is typically the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You let us know how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Keep pets in another room
Booking a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
Why act early in Coldharbour
If you are buying, find out about the stacks before you exchange. After that, any work is yours to arrange and pay for. A report gives you something specific to put to the seller. For an older or listed building in a place like Coldharbour, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Why book us in Coldharbour
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Plain-English reports with photos
Read what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joint between the stack and the roof. We check for lifting, splits and gaps in the joints.
Brick stacks
Older brick stacks often have soft lime mortar. We note where repairs should match the original mortar.
Coldharbour: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Coldharbour is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Hildenborough station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain does not normally stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we will agree a new date if the weather isn’t suitable.
What does a chimney survey cover?
The survey covers the pots and cowls, the flaunching, the pointing, the bricks and the 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.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only where it’s safe to do so. We inspect what can be seen safely: from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the roof space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where it applies. Anything we can’t see is noted in the report.
Tips from our surveys
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
You get the report by email and can pass it to whoever does the work. We use plain English and a photo for each defect, so it’s easy to follow.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Less load on the stack means less strain in wind.