Kent · London and the South East
Swattenden Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Swattenden, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
Honest limits
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Flue inspections or sweeping
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Swattenden
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
Chimney survey in Swattenden: what you get
We inspect chimneys from wherever they can safely be seen: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the loft space where it is safe. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where it applies. Where part of a stack cannot be seen, the report says so. Each defect is recorded with a photo and a plain description. Common reasons to book are flaunching that has broken away and damaged chimney pots and cowls, on chimney pots and cowls, chimney breasts and shared and party-wall stacks.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photograph. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Where
- Swattenden (TN17)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Do you need a chimney survey in Swattenden?
Flashings seal the gap where a stack passes through the roof. They can lift in wind, crack with age or pull out of the mortar joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Signs that a stack is leaning
Anyone responsible for a site like Cranbrook School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Questions to ask before booking
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Their track record with similar roofs
Swattenden: your questions answered
Is Swattenden within the area you cover?
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 when you book.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Swattenden?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. It isn’t a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We check the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside, and we’ll say if anything suggests the flue needs checking.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it applies and safe. We are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, so it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. The report includes photos of what we found.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Swattenden
If you are buying, find out about the stacks before you exchange. After that, any work is yours to arrange and pay for. A report gives you something specific to put to the seller. Around Swattenden, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Swattenden
- Over 20 years’ experience
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Surveys seven days a week
- Plain-English reports with photos
Read how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
For landlords and managing agents
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photographs included.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney breasts and the loft
Where a breast has been taken out, we look at what supports the stack. A structural engineer should confirm whether it is adequate.
Flaunching
We frequently find flaunching that has cracked or broken away. Caught early, it is often a small job.
Nearby places to Swattenden
More services for Swattenden
Local roofs in Swattenden
There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so the council is the place to ask. 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. Kent’s older buildings take in oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses as well. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
Take an older house close to Congregational Church: corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. Trees in and around Crane Valley shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Swattenden is about 12 miles east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. We carry out chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Swattenden and the surrounding area. Swattenden is one of the places in Kent where we work for chimney surveys. Our Maidstone page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in TN17 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Hartley (1 mile west), Cranbrook (1 mile north), Baker's Cross (1 mile north-east), Coursehorn (1 mile north-east) and Gill's Green (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles north), Ashford (15 miles east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (12 miles west), Tonbridge (14 miles north-west), Kings Hill (14 miles north) and Foley Park (14 miles north).
Near you in Swattenden
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Duke Of York Public House Little Tudor and Crane Valley. Other landmarks nearby include Sissinghurst Castle (3.2 miles north-east) and Benenden Hospital (3.9 miles east).
What happens on the day
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. After that, we look at everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Around Swattenden, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Keep pets in another room
Getting a price
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.