Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Tovil, Kent
Chimney surveys in Tovil, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photos.
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
Chimney survey in Tovil
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It is not a flue inspection, a chimney sweep or a gas safety inspection. For the flue itself, you’ll need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. We’ll tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. If you’ve noticed loose, cracked or missing pots and a stack that appears to lean, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Trees around homes in smaller places like Tovil drop leaves, twigs and moss onto roofs and into gutters. Blocked gutters overflow and soak the walls below. A report spots that kind of slow problem before it becomes damp inside. Moss on the roof and weeds in the gutter are both easy to spot from the ground.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Where
- Tovil (ME16, ME15)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in Tovil
Years of fires can affect the mortar inside a stack. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which can make a stack lean.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
If you own a rental within reach of Maidstone West station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Before you book anyone
- Will the report include photos?
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Your questions about chimney surveys in Tovil
Is my home in Tovil listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you cover smaller places like Tovil?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we don’t carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
How long will you be at the property?
Expect it to take about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. The written report follows by email.
Does the report include photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and the report uses them to show each finding.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Normally it is water getting in from outside, or condensation in a sealed stack. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped, and record what we find.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. We survey the stack and its weathering, not the flue. For the flue, you will need a sweep or, for gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer.
The survey, step by step
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, take photographs as we go and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take about 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. A visit to a smaller place like Tovil is no different on the day: outside, inside and from any safe vantage point, in that order. It’s useful to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- 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.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
How to prepare
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
How to book
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or email us. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Read more
Useful tips for Tovil property owners
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
With a shared stack, the report can help when talking to next door. The photos show the problem and which side it is on from the viewpoints we used.
Check your stacks from the street or garden after a storm. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.
What we look for on each type of roof
Rendered stacks
Some stacks are rendered, which can hide the condition of the brickwork beneath. We look for cracks, hollow areas and staining.
Brick stacks
Many older stacks were built with lime mortar. We note where repairs should match the original mortar.
Nearby places to Tovil
Also in Tovil
Chimney surveys in Tovil: local notes
Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Whatever the covering, it’s often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. Stoneacre, about 3.1 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Tovil. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
Trees in and around River Len LNR shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall. If you live in an older home near St Michael and All Angels Church, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Tovil is about 1 mile west of Maidstone, in Kent. We carry out chimney surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Tovil and the surrounding area. Tovil is one of the places in Kent where we work for chimney surveys.
Chimney surveys in ME16 and ME15 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Tovil Road, Wharf Road and Bower Lane, and we cover them all. Other places close to Tovil include Maidstone (1 mile east), Foley Park (2 miles north-east), Penenden Heath (2 miles north-east), Shepway (2 miles south-east) and Ringlestone (2 miles north). Further out, we also cover Sittingbourne (11 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (14 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles south-west), Gravesend (13 miles north-west), Tonbridge (11 miles south-west) and Northfleet (14 miles north-west).
Near you in Tovil
We work in homes and buildings around River Len LNR, St Augustine Academy and Oakwood Park Grammar School. The nearest railway station is Maidstone West station, roughly 0.5 miles north-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Kent Fire Brigade Museum (less than half a mile south-east) and Allington Castle (2 miles north). Not far away are Boxley Hills and Burham Down.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Tovil
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
It’s useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when booking.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.