Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Akeley
Get a clear view of the chimney stack at a property in Akeley from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Flaunching that has broken away
How we price chimney surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Height and safe access
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
What we need to know
When you call or email, these details help:
- When you need the report by
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- What’s prompted the survey
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
About our chimney survey in Akeley
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 photographs and recommendations. If you’re worried about bricks with flaking faces and a stack that appears to lean, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a small place like Akeley, 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 roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- Akeley (MK18)
- Region
- Buckinghamshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Cottages and farmhouses around Akeley often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Arrange a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
What we look for on each type of roof
Brick stacks
Frost can damage bricks that have soaked up water, making the faces flake away. Any spalling is noted with photos.
Rendered stacks
Cracked render can let water in and trap it behind. We record any cracking and where it is.
Places near Akeley
Other services in Akeley
Common questions in Akeley
Do you cover smaller places like Akeley?
Yes. Akeley is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Do you cover Akeley?
Yes, Akeley is within the area we cover. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just call 07833 053749 or email us and tell us about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
Don’t ignore it. Leaning often comes from mortar breaking down unevenly. The survey records what we can see, and a structural engineer can assess whether it needs work.
How long does the survey take?
Expect it to take about 1–2 hours at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. You’ll then get the report by email.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from whoever owns or manages the building. We can only inspect what we’re given access to.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
Why get it checked now?
Loose pots and bricks on a stack are a safety concern. A survey picks them out so they can be made safe by a roofer. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
What you get with us
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Plain-English reports with photos
- An independent view of the roof
- Visits on any day of the week
Read our cost guide and our case studies.
Local roofs in Akeley
With Stowe House about 2.1 miles west, Akeley sits in an area with a long building history. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. A number of Buckinghamshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Akeley is about 2 miles north of Buckingham, in Buckinghamshire. We survey roofs in Akeley and the rest of Buckinghamshire. Across Buckinghamshire, we cover Akeley and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Milton Keynes.
Every address in MK18 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. You’ll find streets such as Main Street, Church Hill and Capel Close. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Lamport (1 mile west), Maids Moreton (1 mile south), Leckhampstead (1 mile east) and Lillingstone Lovell (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns like Haydon Hill (15 miles south), Quarrendon Estate (15 miles south-east), Winslow (7 miles south-east), Watermead (15 miles south-east), Steeple Claydon (7 miles south) and Wingrave (15 miles south-east).
What’s near Akeley
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Bull & Butcher pub and the streets around them. Nearby you’ll also find Buckingham Community Hospital (2.1 miles south) and The Menagerie (2.1 miles west). Open spaces near Akeley include Buckingham Sand Pit.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
It is useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
When to book a survey in Akeley
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which can make a stack lean.
We are often asked to look at:
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Signs that a stack is leaning
Take a building like Akeley Wood Senior School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Before booking anyone
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Their report turnaround times
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What they will not be able to tell you