Kent · London and the South East
St Nicholas at Wade Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching across St Nicholas at Wade, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
Signs you need a chimney survey in St Nicholas at Wade
Chimney stacks stand above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Frost works into cracks in the flaunching and pointing, and rain soaks into worn brickwork. People normally call us when they notice damp or a problem with the stack, or before a purchase.
Look out for signs like these:
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Cracked or missing flaunching
If you look after a building such as St Nicholas At Wade Church of England Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Chimney survey in St Nicholas at Wade: what you get
Redundant chimneys are common, especially where fires have been replaced by central heating. A disused stack still needs looking after. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. If you’re worried about spalled or crumbling bricks and damp patches on chimney breasts, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Some older homes in villages like St Nicholas at Wade are listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Older materials like clay tiles, slate and stone are frequently matched when work is done.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Place
- St Nicholas at Wade (CT7)
- Region
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. It’s typically a modest repair when it’s caught early.
Chimney breasts and the loft
In the loft, staining around the stack frequently shows where water is getting in. We record what we see with photos.
Places near St Nicholas at Wade
Also in St Nicholas at Wade
How the survey works
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Cottages and farmhouses around St Nicholas at Wade frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Preparing for the visit
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Getting a price
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
St Nicholas at Wade questions
How do I find out if my home in St Nicholas at Wade is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is the coastal weather around St Nicholas at Wade 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 usually shows.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
Don’t ignore it. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down. The survey records what we can see, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it is stable.
Do you need to go on the roof to check the chimney?
We inspect from wherever is safe: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the loft space. A drone inspection is included in our Premium Survey where applicable. We note anything we couldn’t see.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes. Photographs are part of every report, so you can see exactly what each finding refers to.
Our stack is shared. Can you still survey it?
Yes. We look at the parts we can see safely and the parts you can give us access to. If a defect seems to be on your neighbour’s side, the report records it and you can raise it with them.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We’re covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Tips that help
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. It shows what we found and where from the viewpoints we used.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. That helps stop damp building up inside.
Chimney surveys around St Nicholas at Wade
St Nicholas at Wade lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces. With Quex Park about 3 miles east, St Nicholas at Wade sits in an area with a long building history. 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.
If you live in an older home near Church of Saint Nicholas, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. If you let a flat or house near Birchington-On-Sea station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
St Nicholas at Wade is about 5 miles east of Herne Bay, in Kent. In St Nicholas at Wade, as across Kent, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our Kent coverage includes St Nicholas at Wade. Canterbury is in our area too.
Here we cover the CT7 postcode area for chimney surveys. You’ll find streets such as The Street, Orchard Close and Wotton Court, and we cover them all. We also cover the places around St Nicholas at Wade: Sarre (1 mile south-west), Monkton (1 mile south-east), Hoo (2 miles south-east), East Stourmouth (2 miles south) and West Stourmouth (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns like Canterbury (9 miles south-west), Margate (6 miles east), Dover (15 miles south), Ramsgate (7 miles east), Broadstairs (8 miles east) and Whitstable (10 miles west).
Near you in St Nicholas at Wade
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Bell Inn. For rail, the closest station is Birchington-On-Sea station, about 2.7 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Powell-Cotton Museum (2.8 miles east).
Why it is worth a survey now in St Nicholas at Wade
Cracked flaunching and worn pointing are often modest repairs when they’re caught early. Left for a few winters, frost and water can loosen pots and bricks, and the work grows. Older and listed buildings around St Nicholas at Wade may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can be seen safely and which survey you book.
What you get with us
- Prices that include VAT
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Visits on any day of the week
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or our case studies.