Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Ivychurch, Kent
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Ivychurch, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
The survey, step by step
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the roof space if there’s safe access. All told, expect between one and two hours on an ordinary house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Somewhere as small as Ivychurch, access is frequently the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- The stacks are looked at from the ground, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- Every part we can see is checked: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the loft space where we can reach them.
- You get a report with photographs and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Getting a price
To get a price for chimney surveys in Ivychurch, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Some details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Advice
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Ivychurch
Chimney stacks take more weather than almost any other part of a house. Over the years, the flaunching cracks, the pointing wears and flashings lift. Water then gets into the stack and can show as damp on a chimney breast or a stain in the loft. A survey finds these problems and records them with photos. If you are worried about a chimney out of line and lifted or split lead flashings, we can find out what’s behind it.
Somewhere as small as Ivychurch, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs frequently need the most attention.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Location
- Ivychurch (TN29)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Also in Ivychurch
Landlords, agents and block managers in Ivychurch
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed ahead of time. Surveys run on any day of the week, which can make access easier.
Ivychurch questions
Is the coastal weather around Ivychurch hard on roofs?
It can do. Ivychurch is within about 5 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Is my home in Ivychurch listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
An unused stack still needs to stay weathertight and ventilated. If it is capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. We check how it is capped and its condition, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
What does a chimney survey cover?
We check the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings. We also check chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach. Everything is written up with photographs.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
We inspect from wherever is safe: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the roof space. Our Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where applicable. If part of a stack cannot be seen, the report says so.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
There are a few common causes: water getting in at the top, through the brickwork or at the flashings, or moisture trapped in a stack with no ventilation. We look at each one and note the most likely cause.
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Check your stacks from the ground after strong winds
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. Early signs are easier to trace.
How the survey changes by roof type
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. It’s normally a modest repair when it’s caught early.
Lead flashings
Some older stacks have mortar fillets instead of lead. They tend to crack, so we look at them closely.
Why get it checked now?
Chimneys are easy to forget because you rarely see the top of them. Defects tend to go unseen until there is a stain. A survey gives you a clear picture before that happens. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Ivychurch, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Ivychurch
- A written report with photographs
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Prices that include VAT
See our cost guide and two real surveys.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Ivychurch
Ivychurch is within about 5 miles of the coast, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles, while driving rain finds any gap. Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
Landlords with a home close to Appledore (Kent) station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St George, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Ivychurch is about 9 miles south of Ashford, in Kent. We visit Ivychurch as part of our work across Kent, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Ivychurch is one of the places in Kent we cover for chimney surveys. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Surveys in TN29 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you are just outside Ivychurch, we cover Brenzett (2 miles west), Snargate (2 miles west), Ruckinge (4 miles north), Hamstreet (4 miles north) and Kenardington (5 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Ashford (9 miles north), Folkestone (13 miles east), Hythe (9 miles north-east), Hawkinge (14 miles north-east), Tenterden (9 miles north-west) and Cheriton (12 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Ivychurch
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Bell Inn. The nearest railway station is Appledore (Kent) station, roughly 3.4 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Brenzett Aeronautical Museum (1.2 miles west) and Romney 'castle' (1.5 miles south). The countryside around Ivychurch includes Burnthouse Pen.
What this survey can’t tell you
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Hidden damage within the stack
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching