Kent · London and the South East
Finberry Chimney Survey
A careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Finberry, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
Chimney survey in Finberry
We inspect chimneys from wherever they can safely be seen: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the loft space where it is safe. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where it applies. If we can’t see part of the stack, the report makes that clear. Every defect we find is photographed and described in plain words. If you are worried about redundant stacks capped without ventilation and gaps where the stack meets the roof, we can find out what’s behind it.
Some older homes in villages like Finberry are listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Finberry (TN25)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. Most visits take an hour or two for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Rural addresses near Finberry can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We check the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about parking near the property
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Booking a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.
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Towns and villages near Finberry
More services for Finberry
Checking the roof from the ground
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Signs you need a chimney survey in Finberry
Flashings seal the gap where a stack passes through the roof. They can lift in wind, crack with age or pull out of the mortar joints. When flashings fail, water often shows up in the loft or on the chimney breast. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- A stack that appears to lean
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Their insurance cover
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Finberry homes and their roofs
Historic houses such as Godinton House, about 4 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Finberry goes. 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. 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. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
If you own a rental within reach of Ashford International station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. Living close to Ashford Green Corridors is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Finberry is about 2 miles south-east of Ashford, in Kent. Finberry is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and South East England. Finberry is one of the towns and villages in Kent we cover for chimney surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Canterbury page.
Surveys in TN25 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We cover properties on Swift Avenue, Harrier Drive and Nuthatch Drive. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Cheeseman's Green (1 mile south), South Willesborough (1 mile north), Park Farm (1 mile west), Newtown (1 mile north-west) and Kingsnorth (1 mile west). Further out, we also cover Canterbury (14 miles north-east), Folkestone (12 miles east), Faversham (14 miles north), Hythe (9 miles east), Davington (14 miles north) and Preston (13 miles north).
What’s near Finberry
Typical jobs here are in homes near Ashford Green Corridors and John Wallis Academy and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Ashford International station, about 2 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include William Harvey Hospital (1.9 miles north-east) and Ashford Designer Outlet (1.5 miles north-west). The countryside around Finberry includes Hatch Park.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, and the report can go to both. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Useful tips for Finberry property owners
You do not need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
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.
Make sure redundant flues are capped with ventilation. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Finberry
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Finberry?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. 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.
Can a landlord with a rental near Ashford International station book a roof survey?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the building, including who will give access on the day.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs like sagging are noted, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. If one is needed, the report says so.
Do you need to go on the roof to check the chimney?
We look from the ground, from windows and from the loft where it is safe. Where applicable, our Premium Survey adds a drone inspection for a closer view. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
What insurance do you have?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
A leaning stack should be looked at. Our survey notes how it looks and the condition of the bricks and joints, and recommend a structural engineer where it may be a structural concern.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes, every report has them. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, so you can see what we mean.
When you need someone else
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Finberry
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching