Kent · London and the South East
Orlestone Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys in Orlestone, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
Local roofs in Orlestone
Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it’s listed or in a conservation area. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Mary the Virgin, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. If you look after a building such as Hamstreet Primary Academy, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Orlestone is about 4 miles south of Ashford, in Kent. Surveys in Orlestone work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. We cover towns and villages across Kent, large and small. There’s also a page for Canterbury.
Surveys in TN26 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Hamstreet (1 mile south-east), Bromley Green (1 mile north), Kenardington (2 miles south-west), Ruckinge (2 miles south-east) and Stone Cross (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Ashford (4 miles north), Folkestone (14 miles east), Hythe (10 miles east), Hawkinge (14 miles east), Tenterden (7 miles west) and Cheriton (13 miles east).
What’s near Orlestone
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Dukes Head pub and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Ham Street station, roughly 0.7 miles south-east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Woodchurch Village Life Museum (3.6 miles west) and William Harvey Hospital (5.3 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Orlestone Forest.
Chimney survey in Orlestone: what you get
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is frequently shared with next door. We look at everything that’s safely in view and what the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it and you can then discuss it with them. You get a written report with photos and our recommendations. Typical surveys look at bricks with flaking faces and gaps in the mortar around the pots, on chimney breasts, lead flashings and flaunching.
In a small place like Orlestone, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Orlestone (TN26)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
Orlestone questions
Can a landlord with a rental near Ham Street station book a roof survey?
Of course. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
How do I find out if my home in Orlestone is listed?
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.
Our stack is shared. Can you still survey it?
Yes. Shared stacks are common on terraced and semi-detached houses. We survey what we can see safely, and note anything that seems to involve next door.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
It can come from several places: cracked flaunching, worn pointing, failed flashings, uncapped pots, or damp trapped in an unventilated stack. We check each one and note the most likely cause.
What happens next?
You receive the written report by email, with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Will I get photos?
Yes, every report has them. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, which makes the report easy to follow.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
Places near Orlestone
More services for Orlestone
Leave it or get it looked at?
A leaning stack should be looked at sooner rather than later. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you can decide what to do next. Around Orlestone, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
What you get with us
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or our case studies.
Before and after the survey
Getting the most from a chimney survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Make sure fixings on the stack are secure
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
Where another specialist is needed, such as a structural engineer or sweep, we explain why. That helps you brief them.
Look at your chimneys from the ground now and then, particularly after strong winds. With binoculars, you can often see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.
What happens on the day
We will ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes roughly 1–2 hours for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Somewhere like Orlestone needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- 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.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Preparing for the visit
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Booking a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
What we are asked to look at in Orlestone
Chimney stacks stand above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Frost opens up cracks in the mortar, and rain gets into worn bricks and joints. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
Problems we come across often include:
- A chimney out of line
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
Landlords with a home close to Ham Street station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Before booking anyone
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
What a survey costs
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- How big the roof is
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, including VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Helping us price your survey
A little information up front helps. It’s useful to include:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or email us, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.