Kent · London and the South East
Forstal Chimney Survey
Wondering about the chimney stack at a property in Forstal? We carry out chimney surveys in Forstal and across Kent.
- A chimney out of line
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Forstal
A chimney survey is about the outside of the stack and the roof around it. It isn’t a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. 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. If you’re worried about damp on a chimney breast inside and flaunching that has broken away, we can find out what’s behind it.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
What you get is a clear record of the chimney stack on the day we saw it. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Where
- Forstal (ME20)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. Cottages and farmhouses around Forstal often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We check every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Getting a price
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before booking.
Advice
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- House, block, shop or office
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You will know the figure before booking.
What we need to know
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- What made you get in touch
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Dates you’re working to, like exchange
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Do you need a chimney survey in Forstal?
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.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- A stack that appears to lean
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Cracked or missing flaunching
For site and facilities teams at buildings like St Peter's Church of England Primary School, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Their report turnaround times
Forstal: your questions answered
Can a landlord with a rental near Aylesford station book a roof survey?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
How do I find out if my home in Forstal is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
There are a few common causes: water getting in at the top, through the brickwork or at the flashings, or moisture trapped in a stack with no ventilation. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
Don’t ignore it. Leaning often comes from mortar breaking down unevenly. We record its condition with photographs, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it’s stable.
Do you look in the loft space?
If there’s a loft and safe access to it, yes. The roof space can show things the outside can’t, like damp timbers, staining or daylight.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days when booking.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey.
What happens if roof problems are left?
If you are buying, find out about the stacks before you exchange. Once you’ve exchanged, the work is down to you. A report gives you something specific to put to the seller. For an older or listed building in a place like Forstal, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Forstal
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Visits on any day of the week
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Photos and a written report every time
Read what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Chimney surveys around Forstal
The wider area around Forstal has a long history of building, with Starkey Castle about 4.4 miles north. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters. 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. 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.
Take an older house close to Methodist Church Including Sunday School: its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. Landlords with a home close to Aylesford station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Forstal is about 3 miles north-west of Maidstone, in Kent. We provide chimney surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Forstal. Our Kent coverage includes Forstal and the places around it.
All of ME20 is covered for chimney surveys. We cover properties on Beddow Way and Forstal Road. We also cover Pratling Street (1 mile north-east), Eccles (1 mile north-west), New Hythe (2 miles west), Burham (2 miles north) and Larkfield (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (3 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (11 miles east), Dartford (15 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (13 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (15 miles south-west) and Gravesend (10 miles north-west).
What’s near Forstal
We work in homes and buildings around Aylesford School, The Bush pub and Tyland Barn and the streets around them. The closest station to Forstal is Aylesford station, roughly 1.2 miles west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Medway megaliths (1 mile north) and Maidstone Hospital (2 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Boxley Hills and Burham Down.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Forstal
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps when budgeting.