Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in River, Kent
We carry out chimney surveys in River and the rest of Kent. We survey on any day of the week.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Worn or missing pointing
- Bricks with flaking faces
Chimney surveys around River
River lies within about 2 miles of the sea, 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. Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it is 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.
Trees in and around Old Park Hill shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters. Anyone responsible for a site like River Primary School will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
River is about 1 mile north-west of Dover, in Kent. We survey roofs in River and the rest of Kent, as part of our work across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Kent. There’s also a page for Canterbury.
All of CT17 and CT16 is covered for chimney surveys. Whether your property is on Lower Road, Minnis Lane and London Road or anywhere close by, we can help. Close by, we survey roofs in Kearsney (1 mile north-west), Temple Ewell (1 mile north-west), Dover (1 mile south-east), Whitfield (1 mile north-east) and Maxton (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns like Canterbury (13 miles north-west), Folkestone (6 miles south-west), Ramsgate (15 miles north-east), Deal (7 miles north-east), Hythe (10 miles south-west) and Walmer (7 miles north-east).
Near you in River
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to St Edmund's Catholic School, Old Park Hill and Royal Oak Cottage The Royal Oak Public House, among other places. The nearest railway station is Kearsney station, about 0.5 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include Crabble Corn Mill (under half a mile south-east) and Dover Castle (2.2 miles south-east). For a walk, there’s Dover Western Heights.
Chimney survey in River
Redundant chimneys are common, particularly where fires have been replaced by central heating.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 chimney pots and cowls, brick chimney stacks and lead flashings, and the problems we are asked to look at most are damp on a chimney breast inside and bricks with flaking faces.
In a smaller place like River, some roofs stand more exposed to wind and rain than in a built-up town. That weather tells first on ridges, verges, chimneys and flashings. A proper look shows whether anything has started to loosen before it lets water in. Once one ridge tile or slate moves, wind gets under the next one too.
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
- River (CT17, CT16)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
More services for River
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 know where you stand. Tradespeople may need to travel further to a smaller place like River, so it’s useful to plan roof work rather than call someone out in a hurry. A survey gives you that notice.
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
Why us?
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Photographs and a written report every time
- Visits on any day of the week
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
How we price chimney surveys
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Building height and the viewpoints available
Every price we give includes VAT. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for your roof before you book.
Getting in touch
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It is useful to include:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
How the survey changes by roof type
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. We record any we can see.
Rendered stacks
Some stacks are rendered, which can hide the condition of the brickwork beneath. The survey checks for cracking, bulging and staining in the render.
Your questions about chimney surveys in River
I let a flat near Kearsney station. Can you check the roof?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Do you cover smaller places like River?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
What does the report include?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos. Points are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime. Let us know your preferred days when booking.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
Usually it’s water getting in from outside, or condensation in a sealed stack. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped and records the likely cause.
What we are asked to look at in River
Flaunching is the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the top. Once it cracks, water gets in and frost makes the cracks bigger. In time, the pots can become loose.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- A chimney out of line
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
If you live in an older home near Church of St Peter, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- How long the report takes to arrive
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
How the survey works
We do not take risks to get a closer look. We inspect what can be seen safely, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. The survey typically takes an hour or two for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. In a smaller place like River, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- You tell us how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- The stacks are looked at from the ground, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the loft space where we can reach them.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Preparing for the visit
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Getting a price
We confirm the exact price before booking, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.