Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Aldersbrook, Greater London
An experienced roof surveyor for chimney surveys in Aldersbrook. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- A stack that appears to lean
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
About our chimney survey in Aldersbrook
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. A survey finds these problems and records them with photographs. If you’re worried about damaged chimney pots and cowls and damp on a chimney breast inside, we can find out what’s behind it, on flaunching, lead flashings and chimney pots and cowls alike.
Much of London’s housing is flats, in converted houses or purpose-built blocks, so roofs are often shared between several households. Whoever looks after the building needs a clear picture of the roof, chimneys and gutters, in Aldersbrook as anywhere. A defect on a shared roof can reach more than one flat. A report gives everyone the same picture to plan from, with photographs.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Location
- Aldersbrook (E11, E12, E7)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a chimney survey looks like in Aldersbrook
Historic houses such as Valentines Mansion, about 1.5 miles north-east, show how far back building in the area around Aldersbrook goes. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. Whatever the covering, it is frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
Landlords with a home close to Wanstead Park station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. If you run a business near Stratford Centre, a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions.
Aldersbrook is about 1 mile north of Forest Gate, in Greater London. Aldersbrook gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. We cover towns and villages across Greater London, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
Every address in E11, E12 and E7 is covered for chimney surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Dover Road, Merlin Road and Belfry Road and the roads around them. Being close to the A116, Aldersbrook is simple for us to get to. Close by, we survey roofs in Bushwood Area of Leytonstone (1 mile west), Forest Gate (1 mile south), Wanstead (1 mile north), Leytonstone (1 mile west) and Redbridge (1 mile north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover London (7 miles south-west), City of Westminster (9 miles south-west), Marylebone (8 miles west), Kensington (11 miles south-west), St Pancras (7 miles west) and Shoreditch (5 miles south-west).
Near you in Aldersbrook
We work in homes and buildings around The George pub, Valentines Park and Tyndale Academy. For rail, the closest station is Wanstead Park station, roughly 0.9 miles south-west of the centre. Nearby you will also find Wanstead Hospital (1.5 miles north) and Passmore Edwards Museum (1.8 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Hollow Pond and Old Ford Island.
Common roof problems in Aldersbrook
Flaunching is the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the top. Cracked flaunching lets water in, and each winter makes it worse. Loose pots can follow.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
The streets around a church like Church of St Gabriel are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What insurance they carry
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Will the report include photos?
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- The size of the roof
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, including VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Helping us price your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- The address and postcode of the property
- The kind of building and roof involved
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The price is agreed before a date is set.
When you need someone else
It’s useful to know what a survey won’t do before you book:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
- A structural engineer’s assessment
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Aldersbrook
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
Nearby places to Aldersbrook
More services for Aldersbrook
How the survey works
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take about 1–2 hours for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. From the street, a London terrace usually shows only its front slope or parapet, so a visit in Aldersbrook moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. If other people live in the building, let us know who can let us into the shared parts.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Leave side gates unlocked
Arrange a survey
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Why act early in Aldersbrook
Damp in a chimney breast normally gets worse while the cause is left. It can spoil decoration and plaster. Knowing whether it’s the flaunching, flashings, brickwork or ventilation means the right fix can be planned. A hidden valley or parapet gutter on a London house can hold water for weeks before anyone notices. When the stain finally shows, the damage underneath is often older than it looks.
Every price we give includes VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for your roof before booking.
Why book with us
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Every finding written up with photos
- PI and public liability insurance
- Surveys seven days a week
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Aldersbrook
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps with budgets and planning.
Aldersbrook: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Aldersbrook is listed?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
I let a flat near Wanstead Park station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, letting agents and landlords book with us as well as owners. Just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us about the building, including who will give access on the day.
How long is the visit?
It normally takes about 1–2 hours at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. You will then get the report by email.
What will the report tell me?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos. Points are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. It isn’t a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp, and we’ll say if anything suggests the flue needs checking.
Will you check the loft?
Where it is relevant to the survey and there is safe access, yes. A clear path to the hatch helps.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.