Kent · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Upchurch
Find out the condition of the chimney stack at your property in Upchurch. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
Chimney survey in Upchurch: what you get
Redundant chimneys are common, especially where fires have been replaced by central heating. A disused stack still needs looking after. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. We survey lead flashings, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney breasts, and people most often book us about damaged chimney pots and cowls and gaps in the mortar around the pots.
In a small place like Upchurch, many roofs stand in the open, 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 frequently where weather gets in first.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Where
- Upchurch (ME9, ME8)
- Region
- Kent
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Practical tips
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Check your stacks from ground level after strong winds
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
With a shared stack, the report can help when talking to next door. It shows what we found and where from the viewpoints we used.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.
What a chimney survey looks like in Upchurch
Upchurch is within about 2 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces. Handmade clay tiles, including Kent peg tiles hung on pegs through two holes, are typical of older Kent buildings. The county’s older buildings also include oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
If you own a rental within reach of Rainham (Kent) station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Mary the Virgin, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. Homes near green spaces like Berengrave Chalk Pit can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Upchurch is about 3 miles east of Gillingham, in Kent. From houses to flats and shops in Upchurch, the roof can be surveyed. Our area takes in places right across Kent, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
Every address in ME9 and ME8 is covered for chimney surveys. We offer chimney surveys to properties on The Street, Crosier Court and Horsham Lane. Other places close to Upchurch include Lower Halstow (1 mile east), Breach (1 mile south), Moor Street (1 mile south-west), Lower Rainham (1 mile west) and Newington (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Maidstone (9 miles south-west), Sittingbourne (4 miles south-east), Gravesend (12 miles west), Faversham (11 miles east), Northfleet (14 miles west) and Minster (7 miles north-east).
Around Upchurch
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Leigh Academy Rainham and Berengrave Chalk Pit, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Rainham (Kent) station, about 1.6 miles south-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Medway Maritime Hospital (4.5 miles west) and Bayford Court (4.8 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Bishop Saltings.
How it works
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. We inspect everything that’s safely in view, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In a small place like Upchurch, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Preparing for the visit
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Book a survey
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
For landlords and managing agents
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as householders. A written report with photographs gives you a clear record of the chimney stack, useful for planning maintenance.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer.
What a survey costs
To price your survey, we look at:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- How big the roof is
All our prices include VAT. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
Helping us price your survey
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- The property’s address and postcode
- What’s prompted the survey
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Upchurch questions
Is Upchurch within the area you cover?
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 beforehand.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Upchurch?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report, and it does not include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
Will I get photos?
Yes. Photographs are part of every report.
How can you see the top of the stack?
We look from ground level, from windows and from the loft where it’s safe. A drone inspection is part of the Premium Survey where it applies. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
What happens next?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so the building owner or managing agent needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Honest limits
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts