Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Martin, Kent
Independent chimney surveys in Martin. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
Chimney survey in Martin: what you get
If you are buying a home with chimneys, it’s worth knowing their condition before you exchange. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. Typical surveys look at gaps where the stack meets the roof and signs that a stack is leaning, across chimney breasts, brick chimney stacks and chimney pots and cowls.
Older buildings in small places like Martin may be 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. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Place
- Martin (CT15)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from ground level
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 ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
Brick stacks
Older brick stacks often have soft lime mortar. We note where repairs should match the original mortar.
Chimney surveys around Martin
Martin lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. With Walmer Castle about 3 miles north-east, Martin sits in an area with a long building history. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
Landlords with a home close to Martin Mill station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. Take a building like Langdon Primary School: its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Martin is about 3 miles north-east of Dover, in Kent. Surveys in Martin work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Our Kent coverage includes Martin. Our Canterbury page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in CT15 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Streets in the area include The Street, Waterworks Lane and Ringwould Road, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Martin Mill (1 mile south-east), East Langdon (1 mile south-west), West Langdon (1 mile west), Ringwould (1 mile north-east) and Sutton (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (13 miles north-west), Margate (14 miles north), Dover (3 miles south-west), Folkestone (10 miles south-west), Ramsgate (12 miles north) and Broadstairs (13 miles north).
Landmarks near Martin
Around Martin, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Lantern Inn and Duke of York's Royal Military School. There’s a railway station in Martin itself: Martin Mill station. A little further out are Royal Victoria Hospital (3.6 miles south-west) and St Margaret's Museum (2.5 miles south-east). The countryside around Martin includes Dover Western Heights.
The survey, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes between one and two hours at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. You’re welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Older rural homes like those around Martin can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Book a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
Tips from our surveys
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
If the report recommends a structural engineer, a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer, it will say why. That helps you brief them.
Get small mortar repairs done while they’re small. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
Questions from Martin
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Martin, take more of a battering?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Martin?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
How fast do I get the report?
It depends on the package: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. Reports are sent by email.
What’s in the survey report?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, and ends with what we recommend. Points are put by urgency where it matters.
What does a chimney survey cover?
Every part of the stack we can see from safe positions: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings. Leaning, unused stacks and damp on chimney breasts are recorded too.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs can’t always be walked on. We use safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where applicable.
Do you need a chimney survey in Martin?
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We note what’s visible in the roof space and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
If you live in an older home near Church of St Augustine, 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 you get a written report with photos
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What experience they bring
What happens if roof problems are left?
Most people never get a careful look at their chimney stacks. Defects tend to go unseen until there’s a stain. A survey gives you a clear picture before that happens. In a place like Martin, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you’d like to know.
Why book with us
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Read what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.