Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Sandling, Kent
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Sandling, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
Chimney survey in Sandling: what you get
Redundant chimneys are common, especially where fires have been replaced by central heating. Even when it isn’t used, a stack has to stay weathertight. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. You get photos of each stack and our recommendations. We’re often asked to look into damp patches on chimney breasts and damaged chimney pots and cowls, across chimney pots and cowls, lead flashings and chimney breasts.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, 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 often the first to give way.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Place
- Sandling (CT21)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
We look at the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. All in, the survey normally takes about 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Older roofs in small places like Sandling can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- 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.
- Every part we can see is looked at: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Getting ready for the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Check we can get to the back of the property
Booking a survey
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before booking.
Related advice
What we cannot see
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will recommend the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
What a chimney survey looks like in Sandling
Sandling lies within about 2 miles of the sea, so there is 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, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. Across Kent, older roofs are frequently handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Peter and St Paul, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. If you look after a building like Brockhill Park Performing Arts College, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale. Homes near green spaces such as Brockhill Country Park can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Sandling is about 1 mile north-west of Hythe, in Kent. We survey roofs in Sandling as part of our work across London and South East England. Across Kent, we cover Sandling. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
Chimney surveys in CT21 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Close by, we survey roofs in Saltwood (1 mile south-east), Pedlinge (1 mile south-west), Hythe (1 mile south-east), Westenhanger (1 mile west) and Newingreen (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Ashford (9 miles north-west), Canterbury (13 miles north), Dover (11 miles east), Folkestone (4 miles east), Tower Hamlets (11 miles east) and Hawkinge (4 miles north-east).
Near you in Sandling
Around Sandling, our work takes us to homes and buildings near St Augustine's Catholic Primary School and Brockhill Country Park. There is a railway station in Sandling itself: Sandling station. Well-known places in the area include Saltwood Castle (0.9 miles south-east) and Hythe Museum (1.4 miles south-east). Open spaces near Sandling include Tolsford Hill.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Sandling
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photos included.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Sandling and across Kent can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Leave it or get it looked at?
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. In a place like Sandling, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Why book us in Sandling
- A report with photos
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Clear package prices, with VAT included
- 5,000+ surveys completed
See how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Questions from Sandling
Is the coastal weather around Sandling hard on roofs?
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.
Can a landlord with a rental near Sandling station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and letting agents book with us as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the building, including who will give access on the day.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
It depends on its condition and your plans. We record how the stack is doing and whether it is capped with ventilation. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need consent.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and the report uses them to show each finding alongside our recommendations.
How long does the survey take?
It usually takes about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. The written report follows by email, on the timescale of your package.
Nearby places to Sandling
More services for Sandling
Practical tips
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
Questions about the findings are always welcome. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joint between the stack and the roof. The survey looks at whether the lead is tight, sound and well fixed.
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. Cracks are photographed and noted.