Kent · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Staplehurst
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Staplehurst, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Mortar washing out of the joints
What a chimney survey does not cover
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
Chimney survey in Staplehurst: what you get
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We look at everything that’s safely in view and what the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it, so you can talk to them. You get a written report with photos and what we recommend. Typical surveys look at damp patches on chimney breasts and frost-damaged brickwork on the stack, across flaunching, brick chimney stacks and chimney pots and cowls.
Around Staplehurst, 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. On older homes, chimney stacks, valleys and gutters are usually where the work is. The fixings under an older roof often fail before good slates or tiles do.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photo where possible.
- Where
- Staplehurst (TN12)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Questions from Staplehurst
I let a flat near Staplehurst station. Can you check the roof?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you need.
Do you cover smaller places like Staplehurst?
Yes. Staplehurst is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. A flue inspection, sweep or gas safety check is a separate job. We check the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside, and we’ll say if anything suggests the flue needs checking.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys run seven days a week. To arrange a date, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
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. Our Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where applicable. If part of a stack can’t be seen, the report says so.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain does not typically stop a survey. Strong wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so we will agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
What’s the best way to book?
The quickest way is to call 07833 053749 or email us. Let us know the address and a little about the roof. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
Chimney surveys in Staplehurst: local notes
Many older homes in Kent have handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles held by pegs through two holes, and tile-hanging on their upper walls. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Whatever the covering, it is frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, before anyone quotes for re-roofing.
If you own a rental within reach of Staplehurst station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. For an older house near a landmark such as All Saints Church, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. Anyone responsible for a site like Staplehurst School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Staplehurst is about 7 miles south of Maidstone, in Kent. If you are in Staplehurst, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Staplehurst is one of the towns and villages in Kent where we work for chimney surveys. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Chimney surveys in TN12 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on Station Road, High Street and North Down or a nearby road, we can help. Other places close to Staplehurst include Hawkenbury (1 mile north-east), Marden Thorn (2 miles west), Cross-at-Hand (2 miles north), Wanshurst Green (2 miles north-west) and Sinkhurst Green (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (7 miles north), Ashford (14 miles east), Sittingbourne (15 miles north-east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (12 miles west), Tonbridge (12 miles west) and Kings Hill (10 miles north-west).
Near you in Staplehurst
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Railway Tavern and the streets around them. There is a railway station in Staplehurst itself: Staplehurst station. Other landmarks nearby include Brattle Farm Museum (1 mile south-west) and Sissinghurst Castle (3.7 miles south).
Tips that help
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
If anything in the report is not clear, just ask us. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
The survey, step by step
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, take photos as we go and record our findings for the written report. It normally takes an hour or two at most homes, or half a day or so for a commercial building. In a smaller place like Staplehurst, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- 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.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Book a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
Related advice
What a survey costs
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- The size of the roof
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before you book.
What to tell us when you get in touch
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Anything about access we should know
- What’s prompted the survey
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Towns and villages near Staplehurst
More services for Staplehurst
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings
Mortar fillets are sometimes used where lead would typically be. They crack with age, and we check them too.
Flaunching
Flaunching takes the worst of the weather. We look for cracks, gaps around the pots and missing pieces.