Medway · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Stoke, Medway
Find out the condition of the chimney stack at your property in Stoke. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- A chimney out of line
- Mortar washing out of the joints
How a chimney survey works in Stoke
If a chimney looks out of line, it is worth getting it checked. A stack may lean because the mortar on one side has weakened, which can happen over many years of use. The survey notes how the stack looks, how far it seems to lean and the state of the bricks and joints. If the stack looks like a structural issue, the report recommends a structural engineer. We survey chimney breasts, brick chimney stacks and chimney pots and cowls, and the problems we are asked to look at most are pots or cowls that look unsafe and eroded joints in the brickwork.
Some older homes in villages like Stoke are listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are frequently matched when work is done.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Stoke (ME3)
- Wider area
- Medway
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We record their condition with photos.
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. We record any we can see.
Chimney surveys around Stoke
Stoke lies within about 1 mile of the sea, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Near the sea, metal fixings wear faster and loose pieces on a roof are more likely to lift, while driving rain finds any gap. 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. Whatever the covering, it’s frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Peter and St Paul, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. Anyone responsible for a site like Stoke Primary Academy will know that large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Stoke is about 5 miles north of Gillingham, in Medway. Wherever you are in Stoke, we can come and survey your property. Stoke is one of the towns and villages in Medway where we work for chimney surveys. Maidstone is in our area too.
Chimney surveys in ME3 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You’ll find streets such as Vicarage Lane and Vicarage Close, all of which we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Middle Stoke (1 mile east), Lower Stoke (1 mile north-east), North Street (1 mile south-west), Tunbridge Hill (1 mile south-west) and St Mary Hoo (1 mile north-west). Further out, we also cover Gillingham (5 miles south), Chatham (7 miles south-west), Rochester (7 miles south-west), Rainham (6 miles south), Strood (7 miles south-west) and Luton (6 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Stoke
Around Stoke, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The White Horse pub and the streets around them. Nearby you will also find Medway Maritime Hospital (5.7 miles south-west) and Upnor Castle (4.8 miles south-west). For a walk, there is Bishop Saltings.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Tell us about it when booking and we will plan the survey around it.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
What happens if roof problems are left?
If you are thinking of removing or reducing a stack, it’s useful to know its condition first. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need permission from the council and the council can advise. Older cottages and farmhouses around Stoke can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, with VAT included.
Why us?
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- An independent look at the roof
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
See how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
How the survey works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, take photographs as we go and make notes for the report. It normally takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Older rural homes like those around Stoke can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We check every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- 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.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Check pets are kept safely away
Getting a price
When you’re ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
Questions about the findings are always welcome. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. Early signs are easier to trace.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Stoke
Will you come out to Stoke?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Is the coastal weather around Stoke hard on roofs?
It can do. Stoke is within about 1 mile of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
How long will you be at the property?
Expect it to take about 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. You will then get the report by email, on the timescale of your package.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes, every report has them. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, so you can see what we mean.
Our stack is shared. Can you still survey it?
Yes. Shared stacks are common on terraced and semi-detached houses. We survey what we can see safely, and note anything that seems to involve next door.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.