Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Greenhithe, Kent
Chimney surveys in Greenhithe from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- A chimney out of line
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
About our chimney survey in Greenhithe
A damp patch on a chimney breast doesn’t always come from the same place. It might come in at the top, through worn pointing or porous bricks, or where the flashings meet the roof. Condensation inside an unventilated stack is another common cause. We look at each possibility and record what we find. That points the work in the right direction. Typical surveys look at redundant stacks capped without ventilation and cracked or missing flaunching, on lead flashings, brick chimney stacks and shared and party-wall stacks.
Around Greenhithe, older cottages sit alongside bungalows and newer houses. Older roofs can have slate, clay tiles or other traditional coverings, while many later ones have concrete tiles. On older homes, chimney stacks, valleys and gutters are typically where the work is, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. Nails and battens under older coverings often give out before the slates or tiles themselves.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Where
- Greenhithe (DA9, DA10)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Greenhithe
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Greenhithe, take more of a battering?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Do you cover smaller places like Greenhithe?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
There are a few common causes: cracked flaunching, worn pointing, failed flashings, uncapped pots, or damp trapped in an unventilated stack. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
It’s worth having a leaning stack checked. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
How long does the survey take?
Expect it to take an hour or two at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. The written report follows by email.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. Many houses share stacks with a neighbour. We survey what we can see safely, and note anything that seems to involve next door.
What this survey cannot tell you
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- Conditions inside walls
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Whether the flue is safe to use
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Greenhithe
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
Do you need a chimney survey in Greenhithe?
Lots of homes have redundant stacks. 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.
We’re frequently asked to look at:
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near Bluewater, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies.
What to check before booking
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- What the survey will not cover
- What exactly goes into their report
Tips that help
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
Questions about the findings are always welcome. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one.
Check your stacks from the street or garden after a storm. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.
Local roofs in Greenhithe
The coast is about 5 miles or less from Greenhithe, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, while driving rain finds any gap. 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’s frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
Trees in and around Castle Hill Park shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters. For site and facilities teams at buildings like Knockhall Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Greenhithe is about 3 miles east of Dartford, in Kent. We carry out chimney surveys in Greenhithe for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Greenhithe is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work for chimney surveys. There’s also a page for London.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: DA9 and DA10. Local streets include Bean Road, The Avenue and Abbey Road, and we cover them all. Greenhithe sits on or near the A206. We also cover the places around Greenhithe: Swanscombe (1 mile south-east), Stone (1 mile south-west), Bean (2 miles south), West Thurrock (2 miles north) and Darenth (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Dartford (3 miles west), Sevenoaks (12 miles south), Gravesend (4 miles east), Northfleet (3 miles south-east), Swanley (6 miles south-west) and Kings Hill (13 miles south-east).
What’s near Greenhithe
Typical jobs here are in homes near Castle Hill Park, The Ebbsfleet Academy and The White Hart Public House and the streets around them. There is a railway station in Greenhithe itself: Greenhithe for Bluewater station. A little further out are Darent Valley Hospital (1.5 miles south-west) and Stone Museum of Geology (1.8 miles west). Not far away are Chafford Gorges Nature Park and Sawyers Lake.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
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.
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
How the survey works
When we arrive, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. After that, we look at everything we can see safely. The survey normally takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. A visit to a smaller place like Greenhithe is no different on the day: we look from ground level, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it’s safe. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We check the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before we arrive
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
How to book
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or email us. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Related advice
Also near Greenhithe
Other services in Greenhithe
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney breasts and the loft
In the loft, staining around the stack frequently shows where water is getting in. What we find is photographed and described.
Rendered stacks
Cracked render can let water in and trap it behind. We record any cracking and where it is.