London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Portsmouth
Wherever you are in Portsmouth, our roof surveyors can carry out chimney surveys. Clear prices including VAT, and surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Chimney survey in every part of Portsmouth
Across Portsmouth, that means a survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching. Pick your town below to see the details for your area. To book, call 07833 053749.
Main towns
How a chimney survey works in Portsmouth
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We inspect the parts we can see safely and the parts the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it and you can then discuss it with them. Everything is written up with photos and what we recommend. We survey chimney pots and cowls, shared and party-wall stacks and lead flashings, and people most often book us about redundant stacks capped without ventilation and flaunching that has broken away.
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. The whole visit usually takes an hour or two for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
What affects the price in Portsmouth
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Why book with us
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Surveys seven days a week
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
Arrange a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.
Around Portsmouth
Typical jobs here are in homes near Manor Infant School, Alexandra Park and St Wilfrid. You’ll also find The Druids Arms (under half a mile north-east), The Portsmouth Academy (less than half a mile south-east) and St Edmund's Catholic School (0.7 miles south-west). Portsmouth’s nearest station is Fratton station, about 0.9 miles south. Other landmarks nearby include Royal Portsmouth Hospital (0.7 miles south-west) and Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum (less than half a mile west). For a walk, there’s Milton Locks and Portsdown Hill.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters across Portsmouth
From Southsea, Milton and Landport to smaller places, people across Portsmouth use a roof survey to plan ahead. A report helps you sort small faults before they let water in.
Even in the South East, autumn and winter storms find any loose slate, tile or ridge. In Portsmouth, as elsewhere, exposed details are where damage shows first. Near the sea in Portsmouth, roofs face stronger wind and salt-laden air, which wears metal fixings and flashings faster. After a storm, the seaward side of a roof is the place to look first.
Portsmouth: If you run a business near Tricorn Centre, a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions. Anyone responsible for a site like Manor Infant School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Portsmouth
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work with less disruption.
Landlords, agents and building managers across Portsmouth can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Tips that help
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. The photos show the problem and which side it is on, as far as we could see.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings
Where the chimney meets the roof slopes, lead flashings keep water out. We check for lifting, splits and gaps in the joints.
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. Any spalling is noted with photos.
When you need someone else
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
- Conditions inside walls
What a survey costs
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Which survey package you book
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
Every price we give includes VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
Helping us price your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- What kind of property and roof it is
If you are buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or send us an email when you are ready.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Portsmouth
Do I need to be at home?
That depends on the survey. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in, while outside access can be discussed as you book.
How long will you be at the property?
Most surveys take about one to two hours for a house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. The report follows by email.
How soon will I get the report?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. Each one is emailed, ready to forward.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
There are a few common causes: cracked flaunching, worn pointing, failed flashings, uncapped pots, or damp trapped in an unventilated stack. We check each one and note the most likely cause.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We carry out surveys seven days a week. To arrange a date, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What’s in the survey report?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, with photos throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, so you know exactly what was covered.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
Have it checked rather than leaving it. Leaning often comes from mortar breaking down unevenly. The survey records what we can see, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it’s stable.