Kent · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Luddesdown
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Luddesdown, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- A chimney out of line
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Flaunching that has broken away
Chimney survey in Luddesdown: what you get
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. Even when it is not used, a stack has to stay weathertight. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. You get photos of each stack and our recommendations. We are often asked to look into mortar washing out of the joints and damp on a chimney breast inside, on chimney breasts, lead flashings and brick chimney stacks.
In a small place like Luddesdown, 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. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
The report records the chimney stack as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Luddesdown (DA13)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
The visit has one job: to see as much of the chimney stack as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Notes and photos go into the written report. It usually takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. For a village or hamlet like Luddesdown, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- 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.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Before we arrive
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Check we can get to the back of the property
Arrange a survey
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
Related advice
Also near Luddesdown
Also in Luddesdown
What happens if roof problems are left?
If you’re thinking of removing or reducing a stack, it is useful to know its condition first. Changes to stacks in conservation areas or on listed buildings may need consent, so check with them first. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Luddesdown, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You will know the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Luddesdown
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Read what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Do you need a chimney survey in Luddesdown?
Flashings seal the gap where a stack passes through the roof. They can lift in wind, crack with age or pull out of the mortar joints. When flashings fail, water often shows up in the loft or on the chimney breast. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- A stack that appears to lean
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
Take a building like Meopham School: long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Before booking anyone
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- How long the report takes to arrive
Different roofs, different checks
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.
Lead flashings
Flashings can lift in wind or pull out of their mortar joints. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Luddesdown
Historic houses such as Cobham College, about 1.2 miles north, show how far back building in the area around Luddesdown goes. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Across Kent, older roofs are often handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
Take an older house close to Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul: old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. For landlords with property near Sole Street station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Luddesdown is about 4 miles south of Gravesend, in Kent. We cover Luddesdown and the rest of Kent, as part of our work across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Kent, large and small. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
We cover every part of the DA13 postcode area for chimney surveys and the streets around it. Close by, we survey roofs in Henley Street (1 mile north), Gold Street (1 mile north-west), Foxendown (1 mile west), Sole Street (1 mile north-west) and Round Street (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (9 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (15 miles east), Dartford (9 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (11 miles south-west), Gravesend (4 miles north) and Tonbridge (13 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Luddesdown
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Golden Lion pub and Camer Park Country Park. Luddesdown’s nearest station is Sole Street station, about 1.2 miles north-west of the centre. A little further out are French Hospital (4.7 miles east) and Rochester Castle (4.6 miles east). The countryside around Luddesdown includes Ranscombe Farm and Gad's Hill.
FAQs for Luddesdown
Is my home in Luddesdown listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Sole Street 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.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
Do not ignore it. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down. We record its condition with photographs, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it’s stable.
What do I do with the report?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. It’s yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
For landlords and managing agents
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed beforehand. We survey on any day of the week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Before and after the survey
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Check your stacks from the street or garden after a storm. With binoculars, you can frequently see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.