Kent · London and the South East
Neames Forstal Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Neames Forstal, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
How a chimney survey works in Neames Forstal
Each stack is looked at from the safest viewpoints available: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there’s access. With our Premium Survey, a drone inspection is included where it applies. If we cannot see part of the stack, the report makes that clear. Each defect is recorded with a photo and a plain description. If you are worried about mortar washing out of the joints and damaged chimney pots and cowls, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on brick chimney stacks, chimney pots and cowls and shared and party-wall stacks alike.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, 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 doesn’t just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Place
- Neames Forstal (ME13)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Chimney surveys around Neames Forstal
Older houses across Kent frequently have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. With Belmont House and Gardens about 4.1 miles west, Neames Forstal sits in an area with a long building history. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Living close to Mount Ephraim Gardens is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls. If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Neames Forstal is about 4 miles south-east of Faversham, in Kent. Roofs in Neames Forstal get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Kent. Our area takes in places right across Kent. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
We cover every part of the ME13 postcode area for chimney surveys and the streets around it. That includes homes and businesses on Selling Road, Sondes Court and Haze Wood Close. If you are just outside Neames Forstal, we cover South Street (1 mile north-east), Gushmere (1 mile north-west), Crouch (1 mile north), Oversland (1 mile north-east) and Selling (1 mile west). We also work in nearby towns like Ashford (10 miles south), Canterbury (6 miles east), Sittingbourne (10 miles north-west), Whitstable (7 miles north-east), Faversham (4 miles north-west) and Herne Bay (10 miles north-east).
What’s near Neames Forstal
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Sondes Arms and Mount Ephraim Gardens, among other places. Neames Forstal has its own railway station: Selling station. Nearby you’ll also find Tower keep castle at Chilham (2.4 miles south) and Eastbridge Hospital of St Thomas the Martyr (5.9 miles east). Not far away are Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
Nearby places to Neames Forstal
What else we do in Neames Forstal
How it works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. It normally takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, and longer for a large or complex roof. For a village or hamlet like Neames Forstal, the journey is planned beforehand: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We look at every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Arrange a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
Do you need a chimney survey in Neames Forstal?
A stack takes the weather from every direction. Frost works into cracks in the flaunching and pointing, and rain soaks into worn brickwork. People normally call us when they notice damp or a problem with the stack, or before a purchase.
Common reasons to book include:
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Worn or missing pointing
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
If you look after a building such as Selling Church of England Primary School, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
Neames Forstal: your questions answered
Is my home in Neames Forstal 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 Selling station?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain is normally fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In strong wind or a downpour, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. We check the parts we can see safely and the parts you can give us access to. If a defect seems to be on your neighbour’s side, the report records it, so you can discuss it with them.
When does the report arrive?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. Each one is emailed.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Our survey is not a structural engineer’s report, and it does not include calculations. We’ll recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
What happens if roof problems are left?
If a stack seems to lean, do not leave it. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you know where you stand. For an older or listed building in a place like Neames Forstal, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book us in Neames Forstal
- Surveys seven days a week
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Photographs and a written report every time
Before and after the survey
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Check unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. It’s far simpler than rebuilding a stack later.
What we look for on each type of roof
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. Cracks are photographed and noted.
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.