Medway · London and the South East
Upper Upnor Chimney Survey
A careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Upper Upnor, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Upper Upnor
Upper Upnor lies within about 2 miles of the sea, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. Oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of the county’s older buildings too. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
Historic houses such as Restoration House, about 1.6 miles south-west, show how far back building around Upper Upnor goes. If yours is one of the older homes, the roof may have been repaired many times, and the survey records how each part is holding up. Trees in and around Lower Lines Park shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching. Landlords with a home close to Strood station may find that a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Upper Upnor is about 2 miles north-east of Rochester, in Medway. Whether the building in Upper Upnor is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Upper Upnor is one of the places in Medway where we work for chimney surveys. Our Maidstone page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of the ME2 postcode area for chimney surveys and the streets around it. Local streets include High Street, Upnor Road and Castle Street, all of which we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Lower Upnor (1 mile north-east), Wainscott (1 mile north-west), Chattenden (1 mile north), Hoo St Werburgh (2 miles north-east) and Cooling Street (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Gillingham (3 miles south-east), Chatham (3 miles south), Rainham (5 miles south-east), Luton (3 miles south), Park Wood (5 miles south-east) and Lordswood (5 miles south).
What’s near Upper Upnor
In Upper Upnor, that means homes and buildings near The Kings Arms, Lower Lines Park and Waterfront University Technical College and the streets around them. Nearby too are Former Ordnance Store At Chatham Gun Wharf (1.4 miles south) and Waterfront UTC (1.3 miles south-east). The nearest railway station is Strood station, about 1.2 miles south-west. Other landmarks nearby include French Hospital (1.5 miles south-west) and Pentagon Shopping Centre (1.6 miles south). Not far away are Gad's Hill and Rede Common.
How a chimney survey works in Upper Upnor
A chimney stands up above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Over the years, the flaunching cracks, the pointing wears and flashings lift. Water then gets into the stack and can show as damp on a chimney breast or a stain in the loft. We record what we find with photos and recommendations. We survey lead flashings, chimney breasts and brick chimney stacks, and the problems we are asked to look at most are spalled or crumbling bricks and gaps in the mortar around the pots.
In a small place like Upper Upnor, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Place
- Upper Upnor (ME2)
- Wider area
- Medway
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Upper Upnor
Also in Upper Upnor
What happens on the day
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes about one to two hours at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Cottages and farmhouses around Upper Upnor frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- 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 safely be seen.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
Before the survey
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
Arrange a survey
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Related advice
Why act early in Upper Upnor
If you are thinking of removing or reducing a stack, it helps to know its condition first. Changes to stacks in conservation areas or on listed buildings may need consent and the council can advise. Older cottages and farmhouses around Upper Upnor can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both inc. VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
What you get with us
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- An independent look at the roof
- Package prices that include VAT
Practical tips
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
Where another specialist is needed, such as a structural engineer or sweep, we explain why. It gives them a clear starting point.
Make sure redundant flues are capped with ventilation. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
Where a roof is shared: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Upper Upnor questions
Is Upper Upnor within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Upper Upnor, take more of a battering?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
How many surveys have you done?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
What happens next?
We email you the written report with photos and recommendations. It’s yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
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’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. It isn’t a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We check the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. Photographs are taken throughout the survey, and they go into the written report.
What affects the price in Upper Upnor
We confirm the price for your roof before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The size of the roof
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we will tell you which fits.
Booking your survey
Some details help us point you to the right survey and price. When you contact us, let us know:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
We confirm the price for your roof before booking, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What we look for on each type of roof
Brick stacks
Most chimney stacks are built of brick, with mortar joints that wear over time. The survey looks for crumbling bricks and worn or missing mortar.
Chimney pots and cowls
Each pot is bedded into the flaunching, frequently with a cowl or cap on top. The survey looks for cracked, loose or missing pots and cowls.