Kent · London and the South East
East Hill Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys in East Hill from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Worn or missing pointing
Roof by roof
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joint between the stack and the roof. The survey looks at whether the lead is tight, sound and well fixed.
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. Caught early, it is frequently a small job.
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in East Hill
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: the pots and cowls, the flaunching on top, the pointing, the brickwork and the flashings where it meets the roof. We also look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. The findings come in a written report with photos and recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. If you’ve noticed redundant stacks capped without ventilation and flaunching that has broken away, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as East Hill, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are frequently old. 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.
Where we cannot see part of the chimney stack, the report says so. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- East Hill (TN15)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when booking.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Why it is worth a survey now in East Hill
Damp in a chimney breast usually gets worse while the cause is left. It can spoil decoration and plaster. Knowing whether it is the flaunching, flashings, brickwork or ventilation means the right fix can be planned. Matching old materials, like handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 inc. VAT. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why book with us
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
East Hill: your questions answered
Will you come out to East Hill?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Can a landlord with a rental near Shoreham (Kent) station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and letting agents book with us as well as owners. Just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us about the building.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We look at everything that 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 applicable. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
Each stack is viewed from the safest viewpoints: from the ground, windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there is access. Our Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where it applies. We note anything we couldn’t see.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can normally go ahead in light rain. 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 do you check on a chimney?
We check the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings. We also check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft space where we can reach. You get a written report with photos.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Where it’s relevant to the survey and there’s safe access, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch, and if the loft cannot be reached safely, the report says so.
Nearby places to East Hill
More services for East Hill
What we’re asked to look at in East Hill
Many chimneys are no longer used. 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.
We’re frequently asked to look at:
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
Living close to Kemsing Down is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Their track record with similar roofs
- What exactly goes into their report
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Useful tips for East Hill property owners
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer or builder. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. Early signs are easier to trace.
What we do, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. In a small place like East Hill, access is normally the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before we arrive
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Check we can get to the back of the property
Booking a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
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Chimney surveys around East Hill
Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Lullingstone Castle, about 2.2 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around East Hill. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. If you let a flat or house near Shoreham (Kent) station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
East Hill is about 5 miles north-east of Sevenoaks, in Kent. Anywhere in East Hill, we can carry out chimney surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Across Kent, we cover East Hill. There’s also a page for Maidstone.
All of TN15 is within our area for chimney surveys. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Cherry Tree Grove, Ashen Grove Road and East Hill Road. We also cover Knatts Valley (1 mile south-east), Romney Street (1 mile south-west), West Kingsdown (1 mile north-east), Maplescombe (1 mile north) and Woodlands (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (14 miles east), Dartford (7 miles north), Sevenoaks (5 miles south-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles south), Gravesend (9 miles north-east) and Tonbridge (10 miles south).
What’s near East Hill
In East Hill, that means homes and buildings near Kemsing Down. For rail, the closest station is Shoreham (Kent) station, about 2.1 miles west. Nearby you will also find Sevenoaks Hospital (4 miles south-west) and Otford Heritage Centre (2.8 miles south-west).