Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Northwood, Kent
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Northwood, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
How a chimney survey works in Northwood
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. On older stacks, we often find cracked flaunching, loose flashings and worn pointing. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. If you are worried about flashings pulling away from the stack and a stack that appears to lean, we can find out what’s behind it, on brick chimney stacks, chimney breasts and lead flashings alike.
In a smaller place like Northwood, some roofs stand more exposed to wind and rain than in a built-up town. Ridge tiles, verges, chimney stacks and flashings take the worst of it. Checking those edges shows whether anything has begun to work loose before it lets water in. A loose ridge tile or slate gives the wind something to catch, and others soon follow.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Northwood (CT12, CT10, CT11)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. The photos show the problem and which side it’s on, as far as we could see.
Look at your chimneys from ground level now and then, especially after strong winds. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Northwood
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time.
Northwood questions
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Northwood, take more of a battering?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it typically shows.
How do I find out if my home in Northwood is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
There is no single answer. The survey shows its condition and how it’s been capped. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need consent.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. It isn’t a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp, and we’ll say if anything suggests the flue needs checking.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed.
Are you insured?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there is safe access. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging, as far as the space allows.
Nearby places to Northwood
More services for Northwood
When to book a survey in Northwood
Lots of homes have redundant stacks. A stack sealed without ventilation can trap damp. That can lead to damp patches on chimney breasts, even with the roof in good order.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- A chimney out of line
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
Historic houses such as Quex Park, about 3.6 miles west, show how far back building around Northwood goes. On a period home nearby, the survey separates sound original work from tired later repairs.
What to check before booking
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- How soon the report will arrive
- Will the report include photos?
What we do, step by step
We check the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there is safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. The whole visit typically takes roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. In a smaller place like Northwood, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- 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.
- You get a written report with photos and our recommendations.
Before the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Booking a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Northwood homes and their roofs
Northwood lies within about 2 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. Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
Landlords with a home close to Ramsgate station may find that a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. Shop and office owners around Westwood Cross may find that a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks.
Northwood is about 1 mile north-west of Ramsgate, in Kent. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Northwood can all book chimney surveys. Northwood is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work. Our Canterbury page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in CT12, CT10 and CT11 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on Gwyn Road, Coxes Lane and Roman Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. You will find Northwood on the A254 and A256, which makes it straightforward to reach. Close by, we survey roofs in Ramsgate (1 mile south-east), Upton (1 mile east), St Lawrence (1 mile south), St Peter's (1 mile north-east) and Broadstairs (1 mile north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Canterbury (15 miles west), Dover (15 miles south), Deal (9 miles south), Herne Bay (12 miles west), Walmer (10 miles south) and Wincheap (15 miles west).
Local landmarks in Northwood
In Northwood, that means homes and buildings near The Derby Arms, The Charles Dickens School and The Royal Harbour Academy, among other places. Northwood’s nearest station is Ramsgate station, about 0.8 miles south of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Westwood Cross (0.5 miles north-west) and Ramsgate Museum (1.4 miles south-east). Open spaces near Northwood include Sandwich and Pegwell Bay.
Honest limits
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- Conditions inside walls
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts