Kent · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Fairbourne Heath
Know where you stand with the chimney stack before you decide what to do next. Chimney surveys in Fairbourne Heath.
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
What happens on the day
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. Somewhere like Fairbourne Heath needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- The stacks are looked at from the ground, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the loft space where we can reach them.
- You get a written report with photos and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Arrange a survey
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form, let us know about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Fairbourne Heath
Each stack is looked at from the safest viewpoints available: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the roof space where it is safe. 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. We survey chimney pots and cowls, flaunching and brick chimney stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are mortar washing out of the joints and signs that a stack is leaning.
Somewhere as small as Fairbourne Heath, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it’s usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
Where we can’t see part of the chimney stack, the report says so. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Fairbourne Heath (ME17)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near Fairbourne Heath
Other services in Fairbourne Heath
What a chimney survey looks like in Fairbourne Heath
Leeds Castle, about 2.3 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Fairbourne Heath. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Take an older house close to All Saints Church: corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Platts Heath Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. Landlords with a home close to Harrietsham station may find that a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Fairbourne Heath is about 7 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. We carry out chimney surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Fairbourne Heath and the surrounding area. Our area takes in places right across Kent. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
We work across the ME17 postcode area for chimney surveys and the streets around it. Local streets include Lenham Road and Windmill Hill. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Liverton Street (1 mile east), Ulcombe (1 mile south-west), Platt's Heath (1 mile east), Pollhill (1 mile north) and Grafty Green (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (7 miles north-west), Ashford (11 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (9 miles north), Faversham (12 miles north-east), Minster (15 miles north-east) and Kings Hill (12 miles west).
Landmarks near Fairbourne Heath
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Lenham School and Kiln Wood, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Harrietsham station, about 1.6 miles north of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Coldbridge Castle (2.2 miles south-east) and The Dog Collar Museum (2.2 miles north-west).
Landlord and commercial surveys in Fairbourne Heath
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photographs included.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney breasts and the loft
If a chimney breast has been removed below, we note what we can see of the support above. A structural engineer should confirm whether it is adequate.
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.
Why act early in Fairbourne Heath
Chimneys are easy to forget because you rarely see the top of them. Defects tend to go unseen until there’s a stain. A survey gives you a clear picture before that happens. Outbuildings and barns around Fairbourne Heath are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. You will know the exact price before booking.
Why book with us
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- An independent view of the roof
What a survey costs
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
To find out what your survey will cost, ring 07833 053749 or email us and tell us about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
What to tell us when you contact us
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Common questions in Fairbourne Heath
How do I find out if my home in Fairbourne Heath 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.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Harrietsham station?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Normally, if there’s one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
Are you insured?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
What should I do with a chimney I don’t use?
An unused stack still needs to stay weathertight and ventilated. If it is capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. We check how it is capped and its condition, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
Do you inspect the flue?
No. A flue inspection, sweep or gas safety check is a separate job. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp, and we will say if anything suggests the flue needs checking.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years.