Kent · London and the South East
Northbourne Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Northbourne, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- A chimney out of line
Signs you need a chimney survey in Northbourne
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We record what we can see in the loft and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
Living close to Betteshanger Park is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Before booking anyone
- Their report turnaround times
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What insurance they carry
- Whether you get a written report with photos
About our chimney survey in Northbourne
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. Even when it isn’t used, a stack has to stay weathertight. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. Typical surveys look at worn or missing pointing and lifted or split lead flashings, on flaunching, chimney pots and cowls and shared and party-wall stacks.
In a village or hamlet like Northbourne, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it is usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
The report is written in plain words, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible, and recommendations are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
- Where
- Northbourne (CT14)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes about 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. You’re welcome to ask questions while we’re there. For a village or hamlet like Northbourne, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- The stacks are looked at from ground level, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Before we arrive
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
How to book
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
What this survey can’t tell you
It is a careful look at the chimney stack, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Hidden damage within the stack
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will suggest the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
What you can safely check yourself
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Different roofs, different checks
Flaunching
We frequently find flaunching that has cracked or broken away. Caught early, it’s often a small job.
Chimney pots and cowls
On redundant flues, we check how the pots are capped. Capping without ventilation can trap moisture.
Prices for chimney surveys in Northbourne
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The shape of the roof and its details
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, from £400 including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
What to let us know when you get in touch
Some details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you contact us, tell us:
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- What kind of property and roof it is
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
Chimney surveys in Northbourne: local notes
The coast is about 4 miles or less from Northbourne, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. Historic houses such as Walmer Castle, about 3 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around Northbourne goes. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Augustine, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. If you look after a building like Northbourne Church of England Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Northbourne is about 2 miles west of Deal, in Kent. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Northbourne can all book chimney surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. Our area takes in places right across Kent. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Chimney surveys in CT14 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Deal Road, Coulson Grove and Mill Lane and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Northbourne: Marley (1 mile north), Great Mongeham (1 mile south-east), Finglesham (1 mile north), Sholden Meadows (1 mile east) and Sholden (1 mile east). We also work in nearby towns such as Canterbury (12 miles west), Margate (11 miles north), Dover (6 miles south), Folkestone (12 miles south-west), Ramsgate (9 miles north) and Broadstairs (11 miles north).
Local landmarks in Northbourne
Around Northbourne, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Castle Community College, Hare & Hounds pub and Betteshanger Park. The closest station to Northbourne is Walmer station, about 2.2 miles south-east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Deal Castle (2.8 miles east) and Kent Museum of the Moving Image (2.7 miles east). For a walk, there’s Monk's Wall nature reserve.
Nearby places to Northbourne
What else we do in Northbourne
Questions from Northbourne
Is my home in Northbourne listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Is Northbourne within the area you cover?
Yes. Northbourne is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
How soon will I get the report?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. Each one is emailed, ready to forward.
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 loft space where we can reach. You get a written report with photos.
What insurance do you have?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
How much does a chimney survey cost in Northbourne?
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose, confirmed before anything is booked.