Kent · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in South Willesborough
Get a clear view of the chimney stack at a property in South Willesborough. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- A chimney out of line
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in South Willesborough
If you’re buying a home with chimneys, it is worth knowing their condition before you exchange. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. Common reasons to book are frost-damaged brickwork on the stack and flaunching that has broken away, across flaunching, brick chimney stacks and lead flashings.
Around South Willesborough, older cottages sit alongside bungalows and newer houses. Coverings range from slate and clay tiles on older homes to concrete tiles on many later ones. Chimneys, valleys and gutters on older homes often need the most attention, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. Nails and battens under older coverings often give out before the slates or tiles themselves.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Where
- South Willesborough (TN24, TN23)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That’s where a survey comes in.
Towns and villages near South Willesborough
What else we do in South Willesborough
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings
Flashings can lift in wind or pull out of their mortar joints. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
Signs you need a chimney survey in South Willesborough
Lots of homes have redundant stacks. If a stack is capped or blocked without ventilation, moisture can build up inside. That can lead to damp patches on chimney breasts, even with the roof in good order.
Look out for signs like these:
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Worn or missing pointing
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary the Virgin: its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- When you’ll get the report
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- What exactly goes into their report
What happens on the day
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the loft space if there is safe access. All told, expect an hour or two for a house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Homes around South Willesborough often have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Mention any side of the property we cannot get to. Inside, the loft is looked at where it can be reached safely.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Tell us about parking before the day
Getting a price
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Advice
Why it is worth a survey now in South Willesborough
If you are buying, find out about the stacks before you exchange. Once you’ve exchanged, the work is down to you. A report gives you something specific to put to the seller. Around South Willesborough, leaves and moss in gutters lead to overflowing water and damp walls. Dealing with the cause is simple; drying out a wall is not.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both inc. VAT. We confirm the price for the job before you book.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in South Willesborough
- Every finding written up with photos
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Packages from £150, including VAT
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
Local roofs in South Willesborough
Historic houses like Godinton House, about 3 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around South Willesborough goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs. Older houses across Kent frequently have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
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 live near a park like Ashford Green Corridors, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
South Willesborough is about 1 mile south-east of Ashford, in Kent. Roofs in South Willesborough get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Kent. South Willesborough is one of the places in Kent where we work. You can also see our page for Canterbury.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: TN24 and TN23. Local streets include Bath Road, Mead Road and Royds Road, and we cover them all. We also cover Newtown (1 mile south-west), Willesborough (1 mile north-east), Park Farm (1 mile south-west), Finberry (1 mile south) and Ashford (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (13 miles north-east), Folkestone (13 miles east), Faversham (13 miles north), Hythe (9 miles south-east), Davington (13 miles north) and Preston (12 miles north).
Around South Willesborough
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Ashford Green Corridors, The Albion Inn and The North School, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Ashford International station, about 0.9 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Ashford Designer Outlet (0.5 miles north-west) and William Harvey Hospital (1.3 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Hatch Park.
Questions from South Willesborough
How do I find out if my home in South Willesborough is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Can a landlord with a rental near Ashford International station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and agents book with us as well as owners. You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
We inspect from wherever is safe: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the roof space. Our Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where applicable. We note anything we couldn’t see.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
How long will you be at the property?
Time on site depends on the roof; most visits take about one to two hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We will rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there is safe access. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement.
What we cannot see
Before booking, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching