Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Hartley, Kent
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? You can book a chimney survey in Hartley and across Kent.
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Hartley
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is often shared with next door. We inspect the parts we can see safely and the parts the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it and you can then discuss it with them. Everything is written up with photos and what we recommend. Typical surveys look at gaps where the stack meets the roof and damp on a chimney breast inside, across lead flashings, flaunching and brick chimney stacks.
Trees around homes in smaller places like Hartley drop leaves, twigs and moss onto roofs and into gutters. Blocked gutters overflow and soak the walls below, and moss holds water against tiles. A report spots that kind of slow problem before it becomes damp inside. Moss on the roof and weeds in the gutter are both easy to spot from ground level.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Location
- Hartley (DA3)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- A structural engineer’s assessment
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney pots and cowls
On redundant flues, we look at how the pots are capped. Poor capping can lead to damp inside the stack.
Chimney breasts and the loft
If a chimney breast has been removed below, we note what we can see of the support above. A structural engineer should confirm whether it’s adequate.
Hartley: your questions answered
I let a flat near Longfield station. Can you check the roof?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hartley?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
Do not ignore it. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down. We record its condition with photos, and a structural engineer can assess whether it needs work.
What does the report include?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos, finishing with recommendations. The most urgent items are made clear.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
What does a chimney survey cover?
The whole stack, as far as it can be seen safely: from the pots and flaunching down to the flashings. Leaning, unused stacks and damp on chimney breasts are recorded too.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. A flue inspection, sweep or gas safety check is a separate job. We look at the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside, and we will say if anything suggests the flue needs checking.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Hartley
Landlords and letting agents in Hartley book surveys as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the chimney stack, with photos, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
What you can safely check yourself
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
The survey, step by step
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. In a smaller place like Hartley, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: drone flights and thermal imaging need the right conditions, while a look from ground level and the loft can go ahead in most weather.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before we arrive
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Arrange a survey
If you are buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you are ready.
Related advice
Towns and villages near Hartley
Other services in Hartley
Chimney surveys around Hartley
With Cobham College about 3.9 miles east, Hartley sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
If you look after a building such as Hartley Primary Academy, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. If you live near a park like Rectory Meadow, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Hartley is about 4 miles south-west of Northfleet, in Kent. Surveys in Hartley work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. We cover towns and villages across Kent. Maidstone is in our area too.
All of DA3 is covered for chimney surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Church Road, Dickens Close and Stack Lane. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Longfield (1 mile north), New Barn (1 mile north-east), Longfield Hill (1 mile east), New Ash Green (1 mile south) and Nash Street (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles south-east), Dartford (5 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (9 miles south-west), Gravesend (4 miles north-east), Tonbridge (13 miles south) and Northfleet (4 miles north-east).
Near you in Hartley
In Hartley, that means homes and buildings near Railway Tavern, Rectory Meadow and Longfield Academy and the streets around them. The closest station to Hartley is Longfield station, about 0.8 miles north-west. A little further out are Darent Valley Hospital (4 miles north-west) and Stone Castle (4.1 miles north). Not far away are Sawyers Lake.
Do you need a chimney survey in Hartley?
Flaunching is the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the top. Cracked flaunching lets water in, and each winter makes it worse. In time, the pots can become loose.
People typically book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Worn or missing pointing
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Lifted or split lead flashings
For landlords with property near Longfield station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- What experience they bring
- What they won’t be able to tell you