Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Southernden, Kent
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Southernden, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Signs that a stack is leaning
Chimney survey in Southernden: what you get
We inspect chimneys from wherever they can safely be seen: from ground level, from windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there’s access. With our Premium Survey, a drone inspection is included where applicable. Where part of a stack can’t be seen, the report says so. Each defect is recorded with a photo and a plain description. We survey chimney breasts, shared and party-wall stacks and lead flashings, and the problems we are asked to look at most are mortar washing out of the joints and gaps where the stack meets the roof.
In a small place like Southernden, many roofs stand in the open, 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. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are frequently where weather gets in first.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Where
- Southernden (TN27)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Landlord and commercial surveys in Southernden
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the chimney stack, with photographs, useful for planning maintenance.
What we do, step by step
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It typically takes about one to two hours for most houses, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Around Southernden, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- Every part we can see is looked at: 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.
- You get a written report with photos and our recommendations.
Before the survey
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Booking a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
What affects the price in Southernden
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- House, block, shop or office
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Booking your survey
Before you get in touch, it’s useful to have:
- What made you get in touch
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Local roofs in Southernden
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. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. The wider area around Southernden has a long history of building, with Leeds Castle about 4.8 miles north. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Southernden is about 8 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. Surveys in Southernden work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. We cover towns and villages across Kent. There’s also a page for Maidstone.
Here we cover the TN27 postcode area for chimney surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Swift's Green (1 mile south), Smarden Bell (2 miles south), Headcorn (2 miles south-west), Hearnden Green (2 miles west) and Biddenden Green (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (8 miles north-west), Ashford (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (11 miles north), Faversham (13 miles north-east), Kings Hill (13 miles north-west) and Davington (13 miles north-east).
What’s near Southernden
The nearest railway station is Headcorn station, about 2.1 miles south-west. Other landmarks nearby include Coldbridge Castle (1.7 miles north-east) and Kent Firefighting Museum (3.8 miles south-west).
Practical tips
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. A few suggestions:
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
Where another specialist is needed, such as a structural engineer or sweep, we explain why. That helps you brief them.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
What we are asked to look at in Southernden
The flaunching on top of a stack holds the pots in place and sheds water. Cracked flaunching lets water in, and each winter makes it worse. In time, the pots can become loose.
Look out for signs like these:
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Worn or missing pointing
- Cracked or missing flaunching
If you let a flat or house near Headcorn station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What happens after the report arrives
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
Your questions about chimney surveys in Southernden
How do I find out if my home in Southernden is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you cover smaller places like Southernden?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
How much does a chimney survey cost in Southernden?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT.
How fast do I get the report?
That depends on the survey you book: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. The report is emailed to you.
Do you look in the roof space?
If the survey needs it and the loft space can be reached safely, yes. A clear path to the hatch helps.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Places near Southernden
More services for Southernden
Can I check my roof myself?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.