Medway · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Hempstead, Medway
A careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Hempstead, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Bricks with flaking faces
Hempstead homes and their roofs
Hempstead is within about 3 miles of the coast, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles. 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. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
With Restoration House about 3.8 miles north-west, the area around Hempstead has a long history. Older homes in the area may have roofs that need matching materials when work is done. For an older house near a landmark such as All Saints Church, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. Shop and office owners around Pentagon Shopping Centre may find that knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies.
Hempstead is about 2 miles south of Gillingham, in Medway. Whether the building in Hempstead is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed. Our area takes in places right across Medway, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Maidstone.
Every address in ME7 and ME8 is covered for chimney surveys. Local streets include Harrow Road, Spekes Road and Capstone Road, all of which we cover. Being close to the A278, Hempstead is easy for us to reach. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Capstone (1 mile north-west), Darland (1 mile north-west), Wigmore (1 mile east), Hale (1 mile north-west) and Park Wood (1 mile east). We also work in nearby towns such as Rochester (4 miles north-west), Strood (5 miles north-west), Hoo St Werburgh (5 miles north), Chatham Waterfront (3 miles north-west), Rochester Riverside (4 miles north-west) and Peters Village (5 miles west).
Local landmarks in Hempstead
In Hempstead, that means homes and buildings near Rainham School for Girls, Howard School and South Wood, among other places. The closest station to Hempstead is Rainham (Kent) station, about 2.1 miles north-east. Other landmarks nearby include Pentagon Shopping Centre (3 miles north-west) and Medway megaliths (3.8 miles south-west). Open spaces near Hempstead include Burham Down and Boxley Hills.
About our chimney survey in Hempstead
Damp on a chimney breast can have several causes. It might come in at the top, through worn pointing or porous bricks, or where the flashings meet the roof. Moisture trapped inside a stack with no ventilation can also cause damp. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause. You then know where to start. If you’ve noticed gaps where the stack meets the roof and signs that a stack is leaning, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Around Hempstead, 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. Nails and battens under older coverings often give out before the slates or tiles themselves.
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.
- Place
- Hempstead (ME7, ME8)
- Wider area
- Medway
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens if roof problems are left?
A leaning stack should be looked at sooner rather than later. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you can decide what to do next. With lower homes, common in places like Hempstead, there is little between a roof defect and the ceiling, so water can show inside quickly once it gets past the covering. Catching the cause first saves redecorating as well.
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both inc. VAT. You will know the price for your survey before booking.
Why book us in Hempstead
- An independent look at the roof
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 20+ years’ experience
- Clear package prices, including VAT
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Questions from Hempstead
Is Hempstead within the area you cover?
Yes, Hempstead is covered. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hempstead?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Are you insured?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
How experienced are you?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and the report uses them to show each finding.
How long does the survey take?
Time on site depends on the roof, but most surveys take between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we are allowed to reach.
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It explains the condition of each part of the stack and any damp inside. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Look at your chimneys from ground level now and then, particularly after strong winds. With binoculars, you can frequently see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Hempstead
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed ahead of time. We survey on any day of the week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
Other services in Hempstead
What we cannot see
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
The survey, step by step
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. The whole visit usually takes an hour or two for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. For a survey in Hempstead, we agree the time, the access and parking before the day. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. Let us know about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- Every part we can see is looked at: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach them.
- You get a written report with photos and our recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Book a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Read more
DIY checks: what’s safe
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.