Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Coombe, Kent
Get a clear view of the chimney stack at a property in Coombe. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
About our chimney survey in Coombe
A chimney survey looks at the stack and everything around it: the pots and cowls, the flaunching on top, the pointing, the brickwork and the flashings where it meets the roof. Inside, we check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft where it’s safe to reach. You get a written report with photos and our recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. We survey brick chimney stacks, chimney breasts and chimney pots and cowls, and common reasons people get in touch are signs that a stack is leaning and mortar washing out of the joints.
In a village or hamlet like Coombe, 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 frequently need the most attention.
It isn’t only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend.
- Where
- Coombe (CT3, CT13)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings
Some older stacks have mortar fillets instead of lead. They tend to crack, so we look at them closely.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Inside, chimney breasts can show damp when water gets into the stack. We check them and at the stack in the loft where there is safe access.
Nearby places to Coombe
More services for Coombe
Surveys for landlords and agents in Coombe
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Before and after the survey
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Make sure fixings on the stack are secure
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It covers the pots, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings, and any damp we found inside. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. Early signs are easier to trace.
Prices for chimney surveys in Coombe
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The roof’s overall size
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. You will know the figure before booking.
Helping us price your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The address and postcode of the property
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Anything about access we should know
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us a few details about the property and we’ll recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Questions from Coombe
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Coombe, take more of a battering?
Often, yes. Coombe is within about 5 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
How do I find out if my home in Coombe is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
What should I do with a chimney I don’t use?
There is no single answer. The survey shows its condition and how it’s been capped. If you’re thinking of removing it, check with the council first in a conservation area or on a listed building.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
Each stack is viewed from the safest viewpoints: from ground level, windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there is access. A drone inspection is included in our Premium Survey where applicable. If part of a stack cannot be seen, the report says so.
How quickly is the report sent?
Report times are set by the package. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, let us know as you book.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime. Just say which days work for you.
The survey, step by step
When we arrive, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. The survey usually takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Older rural homes like those around Coombe can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Before we arrive
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Booking a survey
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Advice
What we’re asked to look at in Coombe
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which can make a stack lean.
Look out for signs like these:
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
With Goodnestone Park about 3.5 miles south-west, the area around Coombe has a long history. Older homes in the area may have roofs that need matching materials when work is done.
Before you book anyone
- Will the report include photos?
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Their report turnaround times
Local roofs in Coombe
Coombe is within about 5 miles of the coast, 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, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
If you let a flat or house near Sandwich station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. Anyone responsible for a site like Ash Cartwright and Kelsey Church of England Primary School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Coombe is about 6 miles north-west of Deal, in Kent. We cover Coombe and the rest of Kent. We cover towns and villages across Kent. Canterbury is in our area too.
Surveys in CT3 and CT13 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Streets in the area include Coombe Lane, Saunders Lane and Langdon Avenue, all of which we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Flemings (1 mile south-west), Ash (1 mile north-west), Weddington (1 mile north), Guilton (1 mile west) and Hammill Park (1 mile south). We also work in nearby towns like Canterbury (9 miles west), Margate (8 miles north-east), Dover (9 miles south), Folkestone (14 miles south-west), Ramsgate (7 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (9 miles north-east).
Around Coombe
Around Coombe, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Chequer Inn and Sandwich Technology School, among other places. The closest station to Coombe is Sandwich station, roughly 2.1 miles east. A little further out are White Mill (1.6 miles east). For a walk, there is Monk's Wall nature reserve.