Kent · London and the South East
How Green Chimney Survey
Find out what’s going on with the chimney stack before you spend money on it. We carry out chimney surveys in How Green, with photos and a clear written report.
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- A chimney out of line
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
How a chimney survey works in How Green
Redundant chimneys are common, especially where fires have been replaced by central heating. Even when it isn’t used, a stack has to stay weathertight. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. You get photos of each stack and our recommendations. If you are worried about damaged chimney pots and cowls and cracked or missing flaunching, we can find out what’s behind it, on flaunching, chimney breasts and shared and party-wall stacks alike.
In a small place like How Green, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Location
- How Green (TN8)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey usually takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In a hamlet or village like How Green, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can be seen safely.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Where there is safe access, we look at the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- You get a report with photos and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Booking a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
What happens if roof problems are left?
Chimneys are easy to forget because you rarely see the top of them. Defects tend to go unseen until there’s a stain. Surveying the stack now can catch problems first. In a small place like How Green, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for your roof before you book.
Why book with us
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- An independent view of the roof
Read what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
What this survey cannot tell you
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Conditions inside walls
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
Common questions in How Green
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Hever station?
Yes, landlords and letting agents book with us as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the building, including who will give access on the day.
Will you come out to How Green?
Yes. How Green is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Will I get photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report alongside our recommendations.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, like cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends. To find a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
How much is a survey?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, and it is agreed before booking.
How can you see the top of the stack?
Each stack is viewed from the safest viewpoints: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the loft space. Our Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where it applies. We note anything we couldn’t see.
Towns and villages near How Green
What else we do in How Green
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney breasts and the loft
Damp patches on chimney breasts often point to a problem above. We look at them and at the stack in the loft where there’s safe access.
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.
Local roofs in How Green
About 0.7 miles south lies Hever Castle, a reminder of how long the area around How Green has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters. 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. Whatever the covering, it’s often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
Landlords with a home close to Hever station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. Living close to Chiddingstone Castle Park and Gardens is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
How Green is about 7 miles south-west of Sevenoaks, in Kent. We survey roofs in How Green and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and the South East. Our area takes in places right across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our Crawley page covers surveys nearby.
All of TN8 is within our area for chimney surveys. Local streets include Hever Road and How Green Lane. Other places close to How Green include Hever (1 mile south), Newtown (2 miles south), Markbeech (2 miles south), Chiddingstone Causeway (3 miles east) and Chiddingstone Hoath (3 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Sevenoaks (7 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (8 miles south-east), Tonbridge (7 miles east), Swanley (14 miles north), Kings Hill (14 miles east) and Paddock Wood (12 miles east).
Near you in How Green
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Wheatsheaf Public House and Chiddingstone Castle Park and Gardens. The nearest railway station is Hever station, about 1.3 miles south-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Tandridge Priory (5.4 miles north-west) and Hever Castle (0.7 miles south).
When to book a survey in How Green
Years of fires can affect the mortar inside a stack. Mortar can deteriorate unevenly from flue gases and moisture, which is one reason stacks start to lean.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Worn or missing pointing
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- A stack that appears to lean
- Staining on walls around the chimney
Take an older house close to Church of St Peter: the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- When you will get the report
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Their insurance cover
Landlord and commercial surveys in How Green
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant, which helps when budgeting.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the survey around it.