Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in East Malling, Kent
Independent chimney surveys in East Malling. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Mortar washing out of the joints
How a chimney survey works in East Malling
A chimney survey is about the outside of the stack and the roof around it. It is not a flue inspection, a chimney sweep or a gas safety inspection. If you use a fire or a gas appliance, the flue should be checked by a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer as appropriate. We’ll tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. We’re often asked to look into signs that a stack is leaning and unused flues sealed without airflow, on flaunching, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney pots and cowls.
Around East Malling, older cottages sit alongside bungalows and newer houses. Coverings range from slate and clay tiles on older homes to concrete tiles on many later ones. On older homes, chimney stacks, valleys and gutters are typically where the work is, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. The fixings under an older roof often fail before good slates or tiles do.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- East Malling (ME19)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Being in a smaller place like East Malling does not change how the visit works: we look from the ground, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it’s safe. It helps to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Booking a survey
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Read more
Do you need a chimney survey in East Malling?
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We record what we can see in the loft and outside, and recommend a structural engineer where support is in question.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
Trees in and around Ditton Quarry shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Questions to ask before you book
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- What experience they bring
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
Chimney surveys in East Malling: local notes
With Starkey Castle about 4.9 miles north, East Malling sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Older houses across Kent frequently have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. 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.
Landlords with a home close to East Malling station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. Take a building like St James the Great Academy: its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
East Malling is about 4 miles north-west of Maidstone, in Kent. We carry out chimney surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in East Malling and nearby. Across Kent, we cover East Malling and the places around it.
Here we cover the ME19 postcode area for chimney surveys. You will find streets like High Street, Chapman Way and Lister Close. Other places close to East Malling include Well Street (1 mile south), Ditton (1 mile east), West Malling (1 mile west), Aylesford (2 miles east) and Kings Hill (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (4 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (13 miles east), Dartford (14 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (11 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (13 miles south-west) and Gravesend (10 miles north).
Near you in East Malling
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Rising Sun pub, Ditton Quarry and The Malling School. The nearest railway station is East Malling station, about 0.7 miles south-east. Nearby you will also find Leybourne Castle (0.9 miles north-west) and Fremlin Walk (3.9 miles east). Not far away are Burham Down and Blue Bell Hill.
East Malling: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like East Malling?
Yes, East Malling is covered. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
I let a flat near East Malling station. Can you check the roof?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
What’s in the survey report?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, and ends with what we recommend. The most urgent items are made clear.
What if it rains on the day?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
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. Everything is written up with photographs.
When does the report arrive?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. All of them come by email, ready to forward.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Damp on a chimney breast normally means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. The survey looks at the stack, the flashings and the capping, and record what we find.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Before deciding what to do with a redundant stack, a survey shows how it is doing. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need permission from the council, so check with them first. Tradespeople may need to travel further to a smaller place like East Malling, so it helps to plan roof work rather than call someone out in a hurry. Knowing early gives you time to get the right people in.
Every price we give includes VAT. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for the job before booking.
Why book us in East Malling
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
Take a look at our cost guide and two real surveys.
Landlords, agents and block managers in East Malling
Letting agents and landlords in East Malling book surveys as well as homeowners. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the chimney stack, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Where a roof is shared: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Let us know about it as you book and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Towns and villages near East Malling
Other services in East Malling
Tips from our surveys
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It explains the condition of each part of the stack and any damp inside. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
What we look for on each type of roof
Rendered stacks
Some stacks are rendered, which can hide the condition of the brickwork beneath. We look for cracks, hollow areas and staining.
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. Any spalling is noted with photos.