Kent · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in South Stour
Chimney surveys across South Stour, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photos.
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- A chimney out of line
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
Tips that help
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Check unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- 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 is on, as far as we could see.
Make sure fixings on the stack are sound, and moved if they’re working it loose. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.
About our chimney survey in South Stour
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. 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. Typical surveys look at frost-damaged brickwork on the stack and staining on walls around the chimney, on flaunching, brick chimney stacks and shared and party-wall stacks.
In a village or hamlet like South Stour, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
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.
- Location
- South Stour (TN25)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey typically takes between one and two hours for most houses, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In a hamlet or village like South Stour, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You let us know how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- Every part we can see is checked: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- Where there’s safe access, we look at the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
How to book
We survey roofs seven days a week. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
What you can safely check yourself
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
Chimney surveys in South Stour: local notes
The wider area around South Stour has a long history of building, with Godinton House about 4.8 miles north-west. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. 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. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
If you own a rental within reach of Ashford International station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near Ashford Designer Outlet, a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions. Living close to Poulton Wood is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn.
South Stour is about 3 miles south-east of Ashford, in Kent. Bookings from South Stour are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Across Kent, we cover South Stour. There’s also a page for Canterbury.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: TN25. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Mersham (1 mile north-east), Sevington (2 miles north), Hinxhill Park (2 miles north), Ridgeway (3 miles north-east) and Hinxhill (3 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Ashford (3 miles north-west), Canterbury (14 miles north-east), Folkestone (11 miles east), Faversham (14 miles north), Hythe (8 miles east) and Davington (15 miles north).
What’s near South Stour
Typical jobs here are in homes near Poulton Wood and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Ashford International station, roughly 2.8 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include William Harvey Hospital (2.4 miles north) and Ashford Designer Outlet (2.3 miles north-west). Not far away are Hatch Park.
Other services in South Stour
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney pots and cowls
Pots sit in the flaunching on top of the stack, and cowls or caps sit on the pots. The survey looks for cracked, loose or missing pots and cowls.
Rendered stacks
What’s behind the render cannot be seen without removing some, so the report says what can and can’t be judged.
Questions from South Stour
Is my home in South Stour listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you cover smaller places like South Stour?
Yes, South Stour is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
How do I book a survey in South Stour?
To book, ring 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what you need to know. We’ll confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. We survey the stack and its weathering, not the flue. The flue should be checked by a sweep, or by a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the freeholder or managing agent. Tell us about it when booking and we’ll explain what’s needed.
What should I do with a chimney I don’t use?
An unused stack still needs to stay weathertight and ventilated. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. We check how it’s capped and its condition, so you can plan what to do with it.
Why get it checked now?
Loose pots and bricks on a stack are a safety concern. Finding them early means they can be dealt with before they come down by a roofer. Around South Stour, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why us?
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Surveys seven days a week
Read our cost guide and two real surveys.
When you need someone else
No survey can tell you everything, and it’s better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls