Medway · London and the South East
Rochester Chimney Survey
Find out what’s going on with the chimney stack before you spend money on it. Chimney surveys in Rochester.
- A stack that appears to lean
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Bricks with flaking faces
How a chimney survey works in Rochester
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 complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it. We survey brick chimney stacks, lead flashings and chimney pots and cowls, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are damp patches on chimney breasts and bricks with flaking faces.
Around Rochester, semis and terraces share chimneys, gutters and roof lines with the house next door. When a stack or gutter is shared, the problem may not be on your side alone. Shared parts are looked at as far as they can safely be seen from the property we are surveying. It helps to mention any shared stacks or gutters when you book.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photographs show what each point refers to.
- Location
- Rochester (ME2, ME1, ME3, ME4)
- Wider area
- Medway
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- The size of the roof
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Getting in touch
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It is useful to include:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Dates you’re working to, like exchange
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Rochester
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it as you book and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Rochester
Rochester lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Near the sea, metal fixings wear faster and loose pieces on a roof are more likely to lift, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. Historic houses such as Restoration House, about 0.4 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around Rochester goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters.
If you live near a park such as Broomhill Park, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls. For businesses in and around places such as Pentagon Shopping Centre, a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks. If you let a flat or house near Rochester station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Rochester is about 27 miles east of London, in Medway. Wherever you are in Rochester, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Rochester is one of the places in Medway we cover. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
All of ME2, ME1, ME3 and ME4 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a chimney survey at a property on High Street, Gundolph Square and Station Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. Being close to the A2 and A226, Rochester is simple for us to get to for chimney surveys. We also cover Strood (1 mile west), Borstal (1 mile south-west), Cuxton (2 miles south-west), Lower Bush (3 miles west) and North Halling (3 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Gillingham (4 miles east), Chatham (3 miles south-east), Rainham (5 miles south-east), Park Wood (5 miles south-east), Lordswood (4 miles south-east) and Twydall (4 miles east). Being one of Medway’s larger places, Rochester has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind.
Near you in Rochester
We work in homes and buildings around Former Ordnance Store At Chatham Gun Wharf, Fort Pitt Grammar School and Broomhill Park, among other places. Nearby too are Temple School (1.2 miles north) and Royal Crown Hotel (under half a mile east). There’s a railway station in Rochester itself: Rochester station. Other landmarks nearby include Rochester Castle (less than half a mile east) and Huguenot Museum (less than half a mile east). Open spaces near Rochester include Gad's Hill and Rede Common.
When you need someone else
Before booking, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
FAQs for Rochester
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Rochester?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Is my home in Rochester listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
How long will you be at the property?
It normally takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. We’ll confirm the timing when you book.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
How soon will I get the report?
Report times are set by the package. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. Mention any deadline as you book.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
We look from the ground, from windows and from the loft where it’s safe. Where applicable, our Premium Survey adds a drone inspection for a closer view. Any area we couldn’t view is noted.
How experienced are you?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years, and 98% of customers are satisfied.
How it works
It is useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take an hour or two at most homes, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. In Rochester, many roofs join a neighbour’s, so shared parts are looked at as far as they can be seen from your property. It is useful to know about previous repairs, leaks or recent work, so time on site goes where it’s needed.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- 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
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Getting a price
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Why act early in Rochester
Loose pots and bricks on a stack are a safety concern. A survey picks them out so they can be made safe by a roofer. Extensions and dormers on homes around Rochester often hide the first signs of trouble at their joints with the main roof. A few wet winters later, it can mean new plaster and decorating as well as roof work.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all with VAT included. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Rochester
- An independent view of the roof
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Prices that include VAT
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Nearby places to Rochester
Also in Rochester
Roof by roof
Chimney pots and cowls
Each pot is bedded into the flaunching, often with a cowl or cap on top. We check that they look secure and undamaged.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Where a breast has been taken out, we look at what supports the stack. A structural engineer should confirm whether it is adequate.