Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Ulcombe, Kent
An experienced roof surveyor for chimney surveys in Ulcombe. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Staining on walls around the chimney
When to book a survey in Ulcombe
Flaunching is the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the top. Once it cracks, water gets in and frost makes the cracks bigger. Loose pots can follow.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Mortar washing out of the joints
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Ulcombe Church of England Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- What exactly goes into their report
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
Chimney survey in Ulcombe
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. A disused stack still needs looking after. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. You get photos of each stack and our recommendations. If you’re worried about frost-damaged brickwork on the stack and mortar washing out of the joints, we can find out what’s behind it.
Some older homes in villages like Ulcombe are listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials like clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
What you get is a clear record of the chimney stack on the day we saw it. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Where
- Ulcombe (ME17)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What else we do in Ulcombe
How it works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a report with photos, emailed to you. As for time on site, most surveys take between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Older roofs in small places like Ulcombe can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Getting a price
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Read more
Can I check my roof myself?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when you book and it will help the survey.
What a chimney survey looks like in Ulcombe
Leeds Castle, about 2.5 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Ulcombe. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Across Kent, older roofs are frequently handmade clay or peg tiles, and tile-hanging on upper walls is a familiar sight. You’ll also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
For an older house near a landmark such as All Saints Church, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. For landlords with property near Harrietsham station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Ulcombe is about 6 miles south-east of Maidstone, in Kent. We provide chimney surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Ulcombe and nearby. Our Kent coverage includes Ulcombe and the places around it. Our Maidstone page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in ME17 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You will find streets such as The Street and Chapmans Place, and we cover them all. If you are just outside Ulcombe, we cover Fairbourne Heath (1 mile north-east), Eastwood (1 mile south-east), Kingswood (1 mile north-west), Chartway Street (1 mile north-west) and Broadstone (1 mile south-east). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (6 miles north-west), Ashford (11 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (10 miles north-east), Faversham (13 miles north-east), Kings Hill (11 miles west) and Davington (13 miles north-east).
What’s near Ulcombe
In Ulcombe, that means homes and buildings near The Harrow Public House and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Harrietsham station, roughly 2.5 miles north-east. Nearby you’ll also find Sutton Valence Castle (2 miles west) and The Dog Collar Museum (2.3 miles north).
Roof by roof
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Where a breast has been taken out, we check what supports the stack. A structural engineer should confirm whether it’s adequate.
Useful tips for Ulcombe property owners
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Check your stacks from ground level after strong winds
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Check redundant flues are capped with ventilation. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
Honest limits
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Ulcombe
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
FAQs for Ulcombe
How do I find out if my home in Ulcombe is listed?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover smaller places like Ulcombe?
Yes, Ulcombe is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
What does the report include?
Written findings with photographs, explaining the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our recommendations, in order of urgency where relevant. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if whoever owns or manages the building agrees access. We check the parts we’re given access to, and the report makes that clear.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. Many houses share stacks with a neighbour. We survey what we can see safely, and note anything that seems to involve next door.
Do you use drones?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. 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 it applies, the Premium Survey.