Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in St Lawrence, Kent
Chimney surveys in St Lawrence from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in St Lawrence
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. 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. 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. We survey flaunching, shared and party-wall stacks and brick chimney stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are damp on a chimney breast inside and gaps in the mortar around the pots.
In a smaller place like St Lawrence, some roofs stand more exposed to wind and rain than in a built-up town. Ridge tiles, verges, chimney stacks and flashings take the worst of it. A proper look shows whether anything has started to loosen. Once one ridge tile or slate moves, wind gets under the next one too.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- St Lawrence (CT11, CT12)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
St Lawrence homes and their roofs
St Lawrence is within about 1 mile of the coast, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles, while driving rain finds any gap. With Quex Park about 4.1 miles north-west, St Lawrence sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Ellington Infant School, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near Westwood Cross, a roof report helps plan work around trading rather than after a leak. If you own a rental within reach of Ramsgate station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
St Lawrence is about 1 mile west of Ramsgate, in Kent. Wherever you are in St Lawrence, we can carry out chimney surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our area takes in places right across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Canterbury.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: CT11 and CT12. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Park Road, Saxon Road and Downs Road. With the A255 close by, St Lawrence is simple for us to get to for chimney surveys. We also cover the places around St Lawrence: Ramsgate (1 mile east), Northwood (1 mile north), Upton (2 miles north-east), St Peter's (2 miles north) and Broadstairs (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (14 miles west), Margate (3 miles north), Dover (14 miles south), Deal (8 miles south), Herne Bay (12 miles west) and Tower Hamlets (15 miles south).
Local landmarks in St Lawrence
Typical jobs here are in homes near Chatham House Grammar School, Churchill House School With Railed Area and The Admiral Fox pub and the streets around them. There’s a railway station in St Lawrence itself: Ramsgate station. Well-known places in the area include Westwood Cross (1.5 miles north) and Ramsgate General Hospital (0.6 miles south-east). The countryside around St Lawrence includes Sandwich and Pegwell Bay.
What happens on the day
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take an hour or two at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. For a survey in St Lawrence, we agree the time, the access and parking before the day. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We check every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Book a survey
For a price for chimney surveys in St Lawrence, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us price the survey accurately.
Advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Flaunching
The sloping mortar around the pots is called flaunching. Cracks in it let water into the stack.
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.
Practical tips
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- Check your stacks from ground level after strong winds
Questions about the findings are always welcome. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
Common questions in St Lawrence
I let a flat near Ramsgate station. Can you check the roof?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
Is the coastal weather around St Lawrence hard on roofs?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it normally shows, and St Lawrence is within about 1 mile of the coast.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
There are a few common causes: water getting in at the top, through the brickwork or at the flashings, or moisture trapped in a stack with no ventilation. We look at each one and note the most likely cause.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days as you book.
How soon will I get the report?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. All of them come by email.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
What we can’t see
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Hidden damage within the stack
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will recommend the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
Surveys for landlords and agents in St Lawrence
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
What you can safely check yourself
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.