Medway · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Upper Bush, Medway
Need a chimney survey in Upper Bush? We can help, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Flaunching that has broken away
How a chimney survey works in Upper Bush
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. If we cannot see part of the stack, the report makes that clear. Each defect is recorded with a photo and a plain description. We survey brick chimney stacks, flaunching and lead flashings, and the problems we are asked to look at most are cracked or missing flaunching and disused chimneys trapping moisture.
In a small place like Upper Bush, 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 often where weather gets in first.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Upper Bush (ME2)
- Region
- Medway
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney breasts and the loft
Damp patches on chimney breasts often point to a problem above. We check them and at the stack in the loft where there is safe access.
Rendered stacks
Cracked render can let water in and trap it behind. Cracks are photographed and noted.
Places near Upper Bush
Other services in Upper Bush
What affects the price in Upper Bush
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- How big the roof is
- Which survey package you book
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What to tell us when you contact us
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- Anything about access we should know
- The address and postcode of the property
- What’s prompted the survey
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Can I check my roof myself?
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Somewhere like Upper Bush needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can be seen safely.
- Every part we can see is checked: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- Where there is safe access, we check the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Let us know where we can park nearby
How to book
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will ask a few questions about the roof. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Read more
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Landlords, agents and building managers in Upper Bush and across Medway can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Upper Bush
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. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. Starkey Castle, about 1.4 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Upper Bush. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For businesses in and around places such as Pentagon Shopping Centre, a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks. If you let a flat or house near Cuxton station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Upper Bush is about 3 miles west of Rochester, in Medway. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Upper Bush can all book chimney surveys. Across Medway, we cover Upper Bush. There’s also a page for Maidstone.
Chimney surveys in ME2 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We also cover the places around Upper Bush: Lower Bush (1 mile north-east), Cuxton (1 mile east), North Halling (1 mile south-east), Halling (2 miles south) and Cobham (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Gillingham (6 miles east), Chatham (4 miles east), Rochester (3 miles east), Rainham (8 miles east), Luton (4 miles east) and Park Wood (7 miles east).
Around Upper Bush
We work in homes and buildings around Strood Academy, among other places. Upper Bush’s nearest station is Cuxton station, roughly 1.2 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Rochester Castle (3 miles east) and Six Poor Travellers House (3.1 miles east). Not far away are Ranscombe Farm and Gad's Hill.
Common questions in Upper Bush
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Upper Bush?
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.
I let a flat near Cuxton station. Can you check the roof?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just phone 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
What happens after the survey?
The report arrives by email, with photos and clear recommendations. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
What does a roof survey cost?
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. Our survey covers the outside of the stack and the roof around it. The flue should be checked by a sweep, or by a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
Every part of the stack we can see from safe positions: from the pots and flaunching down to the flashings. We also note leaning, redundant stacks and damp inside.
Common roof problems in Upper Bush
Some owners book because a chimney breast has been removed below and they want to know about the stack above. We note what’s visible in the loft space and outside, and recommend a structural engineer where support is in question.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Cuxton Community Infant School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- When you will get the report
- Whether VAT is added on top
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours