Kent · London and the South East
Chimney survey in West Farleigh, Kent
Chimney surveys around West Farleigh, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
What you can safely check yourself
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Chimney survey in West Farleigh: what you get
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. On older stacks, we frequently find cracked flaunching, loose flashings and worn pointing. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it. We survey shared and party-wall stacks, flaunching and brick chimney stacks, and people most frequently book us about frost-damaged brickwork on the stack and signs that a stack is leaning.
Somewhere as small as West Farleigh, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it is typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly.
- Location
- West Farleigh (ME15)
- Region
- Kent
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in West Farleigh
Is my home in West Farleigh listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Can a landlord with a rental near East Farleigh station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and letting agents book with us as well as owners. You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we’ll agree the details when you book.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Damp on a chimney breast normally means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped, and record what we find.
How do I book a survey in West Farleigh?
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and agree a day with you.
What’s in the report?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, and ends with what we recommend. The most urgent items are made clear.
Chimney surveys in West Farleigh: local notes
Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, before anyone quotes for re-roofing. Older houses across Kent often have handmade clay or peg tiles, and many have tile-hung walls. You will also find oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses among the county’s older buildings. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
If you live near a park such as Quarry Wood, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls. If you own a rental within reach of East Farleigh station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
West Farleigh is about 3 miles west of Maidstone, in Kent. We survey roofs in West Farleigh and the rest of Kent, as part of our work across London and the South East. We cover towns and villages across Kent.
Chimney surveys in ME15 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Farleigh Green (1 mile east), Hoppers Corner (1 mile north-east), Teston (1 mile north-west), Barming Heath (1 mile north) and Kettle Corner (1 mile north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Maidstone (3 miles east), Sittingbourne (14 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (12 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (11 miles south-west), Gravesend (13 miles north) and Tonbridge (8 miles south-west).
Around West Farleigh
Around West Farleigh, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Quarry Wood and The Tickled Trout pub. West Farleigh’s nearest station is East Farleigh station, about 1.4 miles east. A little further out are Allington Castle (3.9 miles north-east) and Oakwood Hospital (1.9 miles north-east).
What we are asked to look at in West Farleigh
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Mortar can deteriorate unevenly from flue gases and moisture, which is one reason stacks start to lean.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- A chimney out of line
For businesses in and around places such as Fremlin Walk, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What experience they bring
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- How soon the report will arrive
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. Caught early, it is often a small job.
Places near West Farleigh
More services for West Farleigh
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Check your stacks from the ground after strong winds
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It explains the condition of each part of the stack and any damp inside. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Check your stacks from the street or garden after a storm. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.
How the survey works
We do not take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. For a village or hamlet like West Farleigh, the journey is planned in advance: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- You tell us how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- 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’s safe access.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
How to book
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
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Honest limits
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Keep these in mind:
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Conditions inside walls
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in West Farleigh
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching