Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Hales Place, Kent
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Hales Place, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Staining on walls around the chimney
How a chimney survey works in Hales Place
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and the flashings at the roof line. Inside, we check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft where it’s safe to reach. You get a report with photographs and our recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. If you are worried about pots or cowls that look unsafe and frost-damaged brickwork on the stack, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Around Hales Place, 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. Chimneys, valleys and gutters on older homes often need the most attention, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. The fixings under an older roof often fail before good slates or tiles do.
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
- Hales Place (CT2, CT1)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Hales Place
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which is one reason stacks start to lean.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Worn or missing pointing
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
If you live in an older home near Church of St Stephen, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
What to check before booking
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
Places near Hales Place
More services for Hales Place
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Hales Place
The coast is about 5 miles or less from Hales Place, 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. Older houses across Kent frequently have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
If you own a rental within reach of Canterbury West station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. Shop and office owners around Whitefriars Shopping Centre may find that a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions.
Hales Place is about 1 mile north of Canterbury, in Kent. We survey roofs in Hales Place and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Hales Place is one of the places in Kent we cover for chimney surveys.
All of CT2 and CT1 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Downs Road, Godden Road and Tunstall Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover Canterbury (1 mile south), Harbledown (1 mile south-west), Rough Common (1 mile west), Wincheap (2 miles south) and Upper Harbledown (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Ashford (14 miles south-west), Margate (14 miles north-east), Dover (14 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (15 miles west), Folkestone (15 miles south) and Ramsgate (15 miles east).
Around Hales Place
In Hales Place, that means homes and buildings near Archbishop's School, St Thomas of Canterbury Church and St Edmund's School and the streets around them. You will also find Ye Olde Beverlie Inn (under half a mile south) and Bus Company Island (0.8 miles south). The closest station to Hales Place is Canterbury West station, roughly 0.8 miles south of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Whitefriars Shopping Centre (1.2 miles south) and Canterbury Castle (1.4 miles south). For a walk, there’s Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
How the survey changes by roof type
Brick stacks
Brick stacks rely on sound pointing to keep water out. The survey looks for crumbling bricks and worn or missing mortar.
Flaunching
Flaunching takes the worst of the weather. We look for cracks, gaps around the pots and missing pieces.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Roof area
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both with VAT included. We confirm the exact price before booking.
What we need to know
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Hales Place
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Canterbury West station?
Of course. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
How do I find out if my home in Hales Place is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Is Hales Place in your area?
Yes. We cover Hales Place and the rest of Kent. For a price, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. We survey the stack and its weathering, not the flue. The flue should be checked by a sweep, or by a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances.
How fast do I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. If you have a deadline, like an exchange date, let us know when you book.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
How do I arrange a chimney survey in Hales Place?
Just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
What we cannot see
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll point you to the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
For landlords and managing agents
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when you book and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
The survey, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. Most surveys take between one and two hours on an ordinary house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. For a survey in Hales Place, we agree the time, the access and parking before the day. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. Tell us about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- 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.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Preparing for the visit
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Book a survey
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.