Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Highsted, Kent
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? We carry out chimney surveys in Highsted and across Kent.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
About our chimney survey in Highsted
Each stack is looked at from the safest viewpoints available: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the loft space where it is safe. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where it applies. Where part of a stack cannot be seen, the report says so. Each defect is recorded with a photo and a plain description. We survey shared and party-wall stacks, brick chimney stacks and flaunching, and common reasons people get in touch are cracked or missing flaunching and pots or cowls that look unsafe.
In a village or hamlet like Highsted, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it is typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Highsted (ME9)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
After the visit, we write up the report with photos of each stack. It covers the pots, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings, and any damp we found inside. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Less load on the stack means less strain in wind.
How we price chimney surveys
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- House, block, shop or office
- How big the roof is
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Basic, Standard or Premium
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
Booking your survey
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you get in touch, it helps to mention:
- Dates you’re working to, like exchange
- The address and postcode of the property
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Common questions in Highsted
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Highsted?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Sittingbourne station?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Do you look in the loft space?
If there is a loft and safe access to it, yes. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that cannot be seen from outside.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it doesn’t include calculations. We will recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain is normally fine; heavy rain and wind are different. Strong wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.
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 recommend a structural engineer where it may be a structural concern.
Towns and villages near Highsted
More services for Highsted
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Highsted
Highsted lies within about 4 miles of the sea, 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. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
If you look after a building like Rodmersham School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. If you let a flat or house near Sittingbourne station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Highsted is about 2 miles south of Sittingbourne, in Kent. We visit Highsted as part of our work across Kent, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Highsted is one of the places in Kent we cover. There’s also a page for Maidstone.
All of ME9 is within our area for chimney surveys. Whether your property is on Stockers Hill and Highsted Road or a nearby road, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Rodmersham Green (1 mile east), Rodmersham (1 mile east), Tunstall (1 mile west), Bapchild (1 mile east) and Dungate (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (10 miles west), Ashford (13 miles south-east), Canterbury (15 miles east), Whitstable (13 miles east), Faversham (6 miles east) and Minster (7 miles north).
Local landmarks in Highsted
In Highsted, that means homes and buildings near Fulston Manor School and Cromers Wood, among other places. The nearest railway station is Sittingbourne station, about 1.6 miles north of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Sittingbourne Heritage Museum (1.4 miles north) and Bayford Court (1.7 miles north).
Can I check my roof myself?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.
What happens on the day
You don’t need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes an hour or two for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Somewhere as small as Highsted, access is often the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- 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.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Getting a price
For a price for chimney surveys in Highsted, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. A few details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Related advice
Roof by roof
Brick stacks
Many older stacks were built with lime mortar. Repairs should suit the original materials, which we mention where relevant.
Chimney pots and cowls
Pots sit in the flaunching on top of the stack, and cowls or caps sit on the pots. We check that they look secure and undamaged.
What we’re asked to look at in Highsted
Chimney stacks stand above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Frost works into cracks in the flaunching and pointing, and rain soaks into worn brickwork. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
Homes near green spaces such as Cromers Wood can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Questions to ask before booking
- What insurance they carry
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- What they will not be able to tell you