Kent · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Swift's Green
We carry out chimney surveys in Swift's Green and the rest of Kent. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Signs that a stack is leaning
About our chimney survey in Swift's Green
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and the flashings at the roof line. Inside, we check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft where it is safe to reach. The findings come in a written report with photos and recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. If you’re worried about mortar washing out of the joints and lifted or split lead flashings, we can find out what’s behind it.
Somewhere as small as Swift's Green, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it’s typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
The report records the chimney stack as we found it on the day. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Swift's Green (TN27)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we can’t see
A survey is a proper look at the chimney stack, but it can’t do everything. The main limits are:
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
Rendered stacks
What’s behind the render can’t be seen without removing some, so the report explains what we could and couldn’t assess.
Common roof problems in Swift's Green
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Mortar can deteriorate unevenly from flue gases and moisture, which is one reason stacks start to lean.
Look out for signs like these:
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
Landlords with a home close to Headcorn station may find that a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether the price includes VAT
Swift's Green questions
Can a landlord with a rental near Headcorn station book a roof survey?
Yes, that’s a common request. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Is Swift's Green within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Does the weather affect the survey?
A survey can usually go ahead in light rain. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions are not right we will arrange another day with you.
What do you check on a chimney?
We check the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings. Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. Everything is written up with photos.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only if it’s safe. We inspect what can safely be seen: from ground level, from windows, from inside the loft space, from the roof where it’s safe and by drone where applicable. Anything we cannot see is noted in the report.
Do I need to be at home?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access as you book.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We look at the parts we are given access to.
Also near Swift's Green
More services for Swift's Green
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It covers the pots, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings, and any damp we found inside. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Check your stacks from the street or garden after a storm. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.
Swift's Green homes and their roofs
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. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work 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.
Whatever the street in Swift's Green, a roof costs least to look after when faults are caught early.
Swift's Green is about 9 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. If you are in Swift's Green, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Across Kent, we cover Swift's Green. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
All of TN27 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Smarden Bell (1 mile south), Southernden (1 mile north), Smarden (1 mile south-east), Biddenden Green (1 mile south-east) and Monk's Hill (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (9 miles north-west), Ashford (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (12 miles north), Faversham (14 miles north-east), Kings Hill (14 miles north-west) and Davington (14 miles north-east).
Near you in Swift's Green
We work in homes and buildings around The Bell Inn and the streets around them. The closest station to Swift's Green is Headcorn station, about 2.1 miles west. Other landmarks nearby include Kent Firefighting Museum (3.3 miles south-west) and Romden Castle (2.1 miles south-east).
What happens on the day
The visit has one job: to look at the chimney stack as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It usually takes between one and two hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Older rural homes like those around Swift's Green can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We check the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Book a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Related advice
Why act early in Swift's Green
A loose pot or brick can fall from height. Finding them early means they can be dealt with before they come down by a suitable contractor. Older cottages and farmhouses around Swift's Green can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why book us in Swift's Green
- Packages from £150, including VAT
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
Read how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.