Kent · London and the South East
Palm Bay Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Palm Bay, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
How a chimney survey works in Palm Bay
Redundant chimneys are common, particularly where fires have been replaced by central heating. A disused stack still needs looking after. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. We survey brick chimney stacks, chimney breasts and chimney pots and cowls, and common reasons people get in touch are a stack that appears to lean and unused flues sealed without airflow.
Somewhere as small as Palm Bay, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
You receive the findings by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Place
- Palm Bay (CT9)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a chimney survey looks like in Palm Bay
The coast is about 1 mile or less from Palm Bay, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
Landlords with a home close to Margate station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. With Quex Park about 4.3 miles south-west, the area around Palm Bay has a long history. On a period home nearby, the survey separates sound original work from tired later repairs. The streets around a church such as St Philip are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Palm Bay is about 1 mile north-east of Margate, in Kent. We carry out chimney surveys in Palm Bay for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across Kent. Canterbury is in our area too.
Every address in CT9 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Omer Avenue, Fifth Avenue and Simon Avenue and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Cliftonville (1 mile south-west), Northdown (1 mile south-east), Kingsgate (1 mile south-east), St Peter's (2 miles south) and Broadstairs (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Ramsgate (4 miles south), Deal (12 miles south), Herne Bay (12 miles west), Walmer (13 miles south), St Lawrence (4 miles south) and Newington (3 miles south).
Around Palm Bay
We work in homes and buildings around Hartsdown Academy. For rail, the closest station is Margate station, about 1.8 miles west. A little further out are Westwood Cross (2.5 miles south) and Public Library & Museum (Camborne) (1.1 miles west).
Places near Palm Bay
Also in Palm Bay
What affects the price in Palm Bay
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Which survey package you book
- The shape of the roof and its details
Every price we give includes VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for the job before you book.
Booking your survey
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It helps to include:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
Useful tips for Palm Bay property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
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 the ground now and then, particularly after strong winds. With binoculars, you can often see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Palm Bay
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Different roofs, different checks
Flaunching
Flaunching takes the worst of the weather. We look for cracks, gaps around the pots and missing pieces.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Stains on timbers or brickwork around the stack can point to a leak. We record what we see with photos.
How the survey works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photos, emailed to you. As for time on site, it typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, and longer for a large or complex roof. Older roofs in small places like Palm Bay can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Getting ready for the survey
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Book a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Why act early in Palm Bay
A loose pot or brick can fall from height. Finding them early means they can be dealt with before they come down by a roofer. Outbuildings and barns around Palm Bay are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Palm Bay
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- 98% customer satisfaction
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Prices that include VAT
Common questions in Palm Bay
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Palm Bay, take more of a battering?
Often, yes. Within about 1 mile of the sea, as Palm Bay is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Margate station?
Yes, that is a common request. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Do you need to go on the roof to check the chimney?
We look from the ground, from windows and from the loft where it is safe. Where applicable, our Premium Survey adds a drone inspection for a closer view. Any area we couldn’t view is noted.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Visible signs like deflection or sagging are recorded, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report.