Surrey · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Abinger Bottom, Surrey
Find out the condition of the chimney stack at your property in Abinger Bottom from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Lifted or split lead flashings
Should I look at the roof myself first?
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Abinger Bottom
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We check what can safely be seen and what the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it and you can then discuss it with them. You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations. If you are worried about staining on walls around the chimney and flaunching that has broken away, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a small place like Abinger Bottom, 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. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
The report is written in plain words, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Place
- Abinger Bottom (RH5)
- Region
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Abinger Bottom
What else we do in Abinger Bottom
How it works
You do not need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, like stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll take it from there. The survey itself takes about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Older roofs in small places like Abinger Bottom can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- The stacks are looked at from ground level, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access.
- The findings are written up with photos and recommendations and emailed to you.
Before the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Booking a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email to find out.
Related advice
Abinger Bottom questions
I let a flat near Gomshall station. Can you check the roof?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you need, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Abinger Bottom?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. A flue inspection, sweep or gas safety check is a separate job. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
It is worth having a leaning stack checked. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
What will the report tell me?
It sets out what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, with photos throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The roof’s overall size
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all with VAT included. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Getting in touch
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- What kind of property and roof it is
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
Different roofs, different checks
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. Cracks are photographed and noted.
Brick stacks
Frost can damage bricks that have soaked up water, making the faces flake away. We record any we can see.
Abinger Bottom homes and their roofs
Older houses across Surrey often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old buildings in Surrey. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. About 4.6 miles north lies Polesden Lacey, a reminder of how long the area around Abinger Bottom has been built on. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St James, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. Landlords with a home close to Gomshall station may find that a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Abinger Bottom is about 4 miles south-west of Dorking, in Surrey. Anywhere in Abinger Bottom, we can carry out chimney surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Abinger Bottom is one of the places in Surrey we cover. Guildford is in our area too.
All of RH5 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We also cover the places around Abinger Bottom: Friday Street (1 mile north), Abinger Common (1 mile north-west), Coldharbour (2 miles south-east), Forest Green (2 miles south) and South Holmwood (3 miles east). Further out, we also cover Guildford (9 miles north-west), Woking (12 miles north-west), Epsom (11 miles north-east), Horley (10 miles east), Redhill (10 miles east) and Ewell (13 miles north-east).
Near you in Abinger Bottom
Typical jobs here are in homes near Wotton and Abinger Commons, Hurtwood House and The Stephan Langton Inn. For rail, the closest station is Gomshall station, about 3 miles north-west. Well-known places in the area include Abinger Castle (1.1 miles north-west) and Mesolithic Museum (1.1 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Combe Bottom and Leith Hill.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Most people never get a close look at their chimney stacks. Defects tend to go unseen until there’s a stain. Surveying the stack now can catch problems first. Outbuildings and barns around Abinger Bottom are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why book with us
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- A photo-illustrated written report
- Surveys seven days a week
Common roof problems in Abinger Bottom
Years of fires can affect the mortar inside a stack. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which can make a stack lean.
Look out for signs like these:
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Belmont Prep School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- When you’ll get the report
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Whether VAT is added on top