Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Gravesend, Kent
Find out the condition of the chimney stack at your property in Gravesend from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- A chimney out of line
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
Signs you need a chimney survey in Gravesend
Years of fires can affect the mortar inside a stack. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which can make a stack lean.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- A stack that appears to lean
- Cracked or missing flaunching
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Whitehill Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Before booking anyone
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
About our chimney survey in Gravesend
If you are buying a home with chimneys, it is worth knowing their condition before you exchange. On older stacks, we often find cracked flaunching, loose flashings and worn pointing. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. If you’ve noticed cracked or missing flaunching and eroded joints in the brickwork, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Gravesend mixes older houses, often slate or clay tiled, with newer estates, many of them with concrete tiles. Older homes frequently keep chimney stacks long after the fireplaces went, and their flashings and pointing still matter. Later houses have their own typical faults, from loose ridge tiles to blocked gutters.
The report does not just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Location
- Gravesend (DA12, DA11)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Why it’s worth a survey now in Gravesend
Most people never get a close look at their chimney stacks. Problems often go unnoticed until damp appears inside. Surveying the stack now can catch problems first. Around Gravesend, gutters that overflow soak the wall below, and damp follows inside. At roof level, a loose tile or tired flashing does the same. Left alone, both only get worse.
Every price we give includes VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for the job before booking.
Why book with us
- A written report with photos
- Clear package prices, with VAT included
- Over 20 years’ experience
- An independent look at the roof
Read what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Can I check my roof myself?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Chimney surveys in Gravesend: local notes
Gravesend is within about 2 miles of the coast, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. Cobham College, about 2.9 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Gravesend. If your house is among the older ones, 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 like Christ Church Milton, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. Landlords with a home close to Gravesend station may find that a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Gravesend is about 9 miles north-west of Gillingham, in Kent. We cover Gravesend and the rest of Kent, as part of our work across London and South East England. Gravesend is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work for chimney surveys. We also survey roofs in Maidstone.
Chimney surveys in DA12 and DA11 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We cover properties on Christ Church Road, Hillside Drive and Laurel Avenue. You’ll find Gravesend on the A2 and A226, which makes it simple to reach. If you are just outside Gravesend, we cover Windmill Hill (1 mile north-west), Milton-next-Gravesend (1 mile north-east), Denton (1 mile east), Singlewell or Ifield (1 mile south) and Northfleet (1 mile west). We also work in nearby towns such as Maidstone (13 miles south-east), Dartford (7 miles west), Sevenoaks (13 miles south-west), Swanley (9 miles west), Kings Hill (11 miles south) and Foley Park (12 miles south-east).
What’s near Gravesend
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Northfleet Urban Country Park, St John's Catholic Comprehensive and St John's Catholic Comprehensive and the streets around them. The closest station to Gravesend is Gravesend station, roughly 0.9 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include Gravesham Museum (0.9 miles north-west) and Stone Castle (4.5 miles west). Not far away are Sawyers Lake and Gad's Hill.
What we look for on each type of roof
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. We record any we can see.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Stains on timbers or brickwork around the stack can point to a leak. We record what we see with photos.
FAQs for Gravesend
Is my home in Gravesend listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
I let a flat near Gravesend station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the building, including who will give access on the day.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
Do you cover Gravesend?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, Gravesend included.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. We survey the stack and its weathering, not the flue. For the flue, you will need a sweep or, for gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Are you insured?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
What happens after the survey?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Also near Gravesend
More services for Gravesend
How it works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes between one and two hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. You’re welcome to ask questions while we’re there. A survey in Gravesend needs access inside and out, including the loft hatch and any rooms with damp. Mention gates, side passages and anything at the back. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
How to prepare
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
How to book
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.
Advice
Surveys for landlords and agents in Gravesend
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Gravesend. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.