Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Cotman's Ash, Kent
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? You can book a chimney survey in Cotman's Ash and across Kent.
- Worn or missing pointing
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- A chimney out of line
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Cotman's Ash
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. With our Premium Survey, a drone inspection is included where it applies. If we can’t see part of the stack, the report makes that clear. Each defect is recorded with a photo and a plain description. Typical surveys look at signs that a stack is leaning and eroded joints in the brickwork, across shared and party-wall stacks, brick chimney stacks and chimney breasts.
In a village or hamlet like Cotman's Ash, 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. We report on what can be seen safely, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- Cotman's Ash (TN15)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about chimney surveys in Cotman's Ash
Can a landlord with a rental near Kemsing station book a roof survey?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details, including who will give access on the day.
How do I find out if my home in Cotman's Ash is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the building owner or managing agent. Let us know about it when booking and we’ll explain what’s needed.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
How long does the survey take?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof, but most surveys take between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. The written report follows by email.
Is Cotman's Ash in your area?
Yes, we do. We carry out chimney surveys in Cotman's Ash.
Why get it checked now?
Cracked flaunching and worn pointing are often modest repairs when they’re caught early. Leave it, and frost can work the stack loose and the job gets bigger. Outbuildings and barns around Cotman's Ash are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, access and the package you choose.
What you get with us
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Take a look at our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
For landlords and managing agents
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
What we can’t see
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- Conditions inside walls
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Cotman's Ash
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Cotman's Ash
Lullingstone Castle, about 3.4 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Cotman's Ash. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. 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.
For landlords with property near Kemsing station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. If you look after a building such as Kemsing Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Cotman's Ash is about 3 miles north-east of Sevenoaks, in Kent. We survey roofs in Cotman's Ash and the rest of Kent. Our Kent coverage includes Cotman's Ash. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Every address in TN15 is covered for chimney surveys. Other places close to Cotman's Ash include Woodlands (1 mile north-east), Heaverham (1 mile south-east), Knatts Valley (1 mile north), Romney Street (1 mile north-west) and Kemsing (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles east), Dartford (9 miles north), Sevenoaks (3 miles south-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (13 miles south), Gravesend (10 miles north-east) and Tonbridge (8 miles south).
Local landmarks in Cotman's Ash
We work in homes and buildings around The Rising Sun pub and Kemsing Down, among other places. The closest station to Cotman's Ash is Kemsing station, roughly 1.4 miles south. Well-known places in the area include Kemsing Castle Bank (0.9 miles south-west) and Sevenoaks Hospital (2.8 miles south-west). For a walk, there is Dryhill Nature Reserve.
Towns and villages near Cotman's Ash
What else we do in Cotman's Ash
When to book a survey in Cotman's Ash
Lots of homes have redundant stacks. If a stack is capped or blocked without ventilation, moisture can build up inside. Damp patches can appear on chimney breasts even when nothing is leaking.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- A chimney out of line
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
What to check before booking
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
What we do, step by step
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Cottages and farmhouses around Cotman's Ash often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
Arrange a survey
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Tips that help
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Make sure fixings on the stack are secure
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer or builder. We use plain English and a photo for each defect, so it is easy to follow.
Check your stacks from the street or garden after a storm. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.