Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Painter's Forstal, Kent
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Painter's Forstal, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Worn or missing pointing
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
Chimney survey in Painter's Forstal: what you get
A chimney survey looks at the stack and everything around it: the pots and cowls, the flaunching on top, the pointing, the brickwork and the flashings where it meets the roof. Inside, we check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft where it is safe to reach. You get a written report with photographs and our recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. If you’ve noticed staining on walls around the chimney and a stack that appears to lean, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Place
- Painter's Forstal (ME13)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take an hour or two for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. In a small place like Painter's Forstal, access is typically the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the loft space where we can reach them.
- You get a written report with photos and our recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
How to book
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Related advice
Chimney surveys in Painter's Forstal: local notes
Painter's Forstal lies within about 5 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 frequently have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
Belmont House and Gardens, about 1.8 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Painter's Forstal. If your home is one of the older ones, the roof may have been repaired many times, and the survey records how each part is holding up. If you own a rental within reach of Faversham station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Ospringe Church of England Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Painter's Forstal is about 2 miles south-west of Faversham, in Kent. Bookings from Painter's Forstal are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Painter's Forstal is one of the places in Kent we cover for chimney surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Canterbury page.
Every address in ME13 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Cades Orchard, Eastling Road and Painter's Forstal Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in North Street (1 mile south-east), Sheldwich (2 miles south-east), Sheldwich Lees (2 miles south-east), Throwley (2 miles south) and Eastling (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (14 miles west), Ashford (11 miles south), Canterbury (10 miles east), Sittingbourne (6 miles north-west), Whitstable (8 miles north-east) and Herne Bay (13 miles north-east).
Near you in Painter's Forstal
We work in homes and buildings around The Alma pub and The Abbey School. For rail, the closest station is Faversham station, roughly 1.8 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Newnham Castle (2.5 miles west).
What we can’t see
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will suggest the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
Different roofs, different checks
Brick stacks
Frost can damage bricks that have soaked up water, making the faces flake away. Any spalling is noted with photos.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Inside, chimney breasts can show damp when water gets into the stack. We check the breasts and the stack in the loft space where we can reach.
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. It shows what we found and where, as far as we could see.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
What affects the price in Painter's Forstal
To price your survey, we look at:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The roof’s overall size
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
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
Can I check my roof myself?
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 don’t climb up for a closer look.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Painter's Forstal
Will you come out to Painter's Forstal?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Can a landlord with a rental near Faversham station book a roof survey?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you need.
How long is the visit?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof, but most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for a house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Are you insured?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. Our survey covers the outside of the stack and the roof around it. For the flue, you will need a sweep or, for gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer.
What do I do with the report?
You will get the report by email, with photographs and clear recommendations. With Standard there is a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In high wind or heavy rain, a drone can’t fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.