Kent · London and the South East
Lenham Forstal Chimney Survey
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? You can book a chimney survey in Lenham Forstal and across Kent.
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
Chimney survey in Lenham Forstal: what you get
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is often shared with next door. We check everything that’s safely in view and what the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it, so you can talk to them. You get a written report with photos and our recommendations. We survey lead flashings, chimney breasts and flaunching, and common reasons people get in touch are frost-damaged brickwork on the stack and unused flues sealed without airflow.
Some older homes in villages like Lenham Forstal are listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Place
- Lenham Forstal (ME17)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Lenham Forstal: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Lenham Forstal?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Will you come out to Lenham Forstal?
Yes. Lenham Forstal is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If there’s a loft and safe access to it, yes. The roof space can show things the outside can’t, such as damp timbers, staining or daylight.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
How do I arrange a chimney survey in Lenham Forstal?
Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll explain what’s needed.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Towns and villages near Lenham Forstal
More services for Lenham Forstal
Roof by roof
Flaunching
Flaunching is the mortar on top of a stack that holds the pots and sheds water. Once it cracks, water can get straight into the brickwork.
Lead flashings
Mortar fillets are sometimes used where lead would normally be. They crack with age, and we check them too.
Signs you need a chimney survey in Lenham Forstal
Flaunching is the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the top. Once it cracks, water gets in and frost makes the cracks bigger. Loose pots can follow.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Worn or missing pointing
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
Homes near green spaces such as Kiln Wood can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- What insurance they carry
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
When you need someone else
No survey can tell you everything, and it’s better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Conditions inside walls
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
Useful tips for Lenham Forstal property owners
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Check your stacks from ground level after strong winds
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
You get the report by email and can pass it to whoever does the work. We use plain English and a photo for each defect so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
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.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Lenham Forstal
Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. You will 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. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand.
If you look after a building like The Lenham School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle. If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of the Holy Trinity, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Lenham Forstal is about 8 miles north-west of Ashford, in Kent. Whether the building in Lenham Forstal is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. We cover towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
All of ME17 is covered for chimney surveys. Streets in the area include The Forstal, Mount Castle Lane and Burgess Fields. We also cover Lenham Heath (1 mile south-east), Charing Heath (1 mile south-east), Stonebridge Green (1 mile south), Leadingcross Green (2 miles north-west) and Lenham (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (10 miles west), Ashford (8 miles south-east), Canterbury (15 miles east), Sittingbourne (9 miles north), Faversham (9 miles north-east) and Minster (14 miles north).
Landmarks near Lenham Forstal
We work in homes and buildings around Kiln Wood. Lenham Forstal’s nearest station is Lenham station, about 1.7 miles north-west of the centre. Nearby you will also find Coldbridge Castle (2.3 miles south-west).
How it works
You don’t need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Rural addresses near Lenham Forstal can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
How to prepare
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Arrange a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The roof’s overall size
- Which survey package you book
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT, and we can help you choose.
What we need to know
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before you book.