Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Small Hythe, Kent
Know where you stand with the chimney stack before you decide what to do next. We carry out chimney surveys in Small Hythe, with photos and a clear written report.
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Cracked or missing flaunching
What a chimney survey looks like in Small Hythe
Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. The wider area around Small Hythe has a long history of building, with Smallhythe Place about 0.2 miles south. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Anyone responsible for a site like Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Small Hythe is about 10 miles south-west of Ashford, in Kent. Roofs in Small Hythe get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Kent. Our Kent coverage includes Small Hythe. There is also a page for Maidstone.
Chimney surveys in TN30 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We also cover Broad Tenterden (1 mile north), Tenterden (2 miles north), Strood (2 miles north-west), Rolvenden Layne (3 miles west) and Rolvenden (3 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Ashford (10 miles north-east), Park Wood (15 miles north-west), Kennington (12 miles north-east), New Romney (11 miles east), Staplehurst (11 miles north-west) and Stanhope (9 miles north-east).
What’s near Small Hythe
Other landmarks nearby include Benenden Hospital (4.8 miles north-west) and Smallhythe Place (less than half a mile south). Open spaces near Small Hythe include Flatropers Wood.
Chimney survey in Small Hythe
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. You get photos and findings you can take back to the seller or agent. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it. If you’re worried about loose, cracked or missing pots and disused chimneys trapping moisture, we can find out what’s behind it, on chimney breasts, flaunching and chimney pots and cowls alike.
Some older homes in villages like Small Hythe are listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Small Hythe (TN30)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
You don’t need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Older roofs in small places like Small Hythe can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it is safe.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
How to prepare
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Arrange a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
Towns and villages near Small Hythe
What else we do in Small Hythe
How the survey changes by roof type
Rendered stacks
Cracked render can let water in and trap it behind. Cracks are photographed and noted.
Flaunching
We often find flaunching that has cracked or broken away. Caught early, it’s frequently a small job.
FAQs for Small Hythe
Is Small Hythe within the area you cover?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Is my home in Small Hythe listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
Damp on a chimney breast typically means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped and records the likely cause.
How can you see the top of the stack?
We look from ground level, 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.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Small Hythe
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, with the most urgent items set out first.
Do you need a chimney survey in Small Hythe?
Some owners book because a chimney breast has been removed below and they want to know about the stack above. We note what’s visible in the loft space and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
Look out for signs like these:
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
The streets around a church such as Church of St John the Baptist are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Which limits apply to the survey
How we price chimney surveys
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Helping us price your survey
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you get in touch, it is useful to mention:
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
To get a price for chimney surveys in Small Hythe, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us price the survey accurately.
Why get it checked now?
Chimneys are easy to forget because you rarely see the top of them. Defects tend to go unseen until there is a stain. Surveying the stack now can catch problems first. Older and listed buildings around Small Hythe may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we’ll tell you which fits.
Why book us in Small Hythe
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Read what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.