London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Reading
Covering 34 places across Reading for chimney surveys, with prices that include VAT and surveys on weekdays and weekends.
Chimney survey across Reading
Across Reading, 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.
Largest places
About chimney surveys in Reading
A chimney survey is about the outside of the stack and the roof around it. It is not a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. For the flue itself, you’ll need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. We will tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. We survey chimney pots and cowls, shared and party-wall stacks and lead flashings, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are spalled or crumbling bricks and cracked or missing flaunching.
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. You are welcome to ask questions while we’re there.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
How our prices work
Every price we give includes VAT. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for the job before you book.
Why book with us
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- PI and public liability insurance
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Plain-English reports with photos
Booking a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Landmarks near Caversham
We work in homes and buildings around Eldon Square, Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre and Chiltern Nursery Nurse Training School and the streets around them. Nearby too are The Hill Primary School (within half a mile north-east), Grace Church (under half a mile east) and The White Horse pub (under half a mile north). For rail, the closest station is Reading station, about 1.3 miles south of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Royal Berkshire Hospital (1.9 miles south) and Broad Street Mall (1.6 miles south). The countryside around Caversham includes South Lake and Sonning Hill.
Chimney surveys across Reading: local notes
From Caversham, Norcot and West Reading to its smaller places, buildings across Reading have roofs of every age. The usual weak points are fixings, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
From inner London terraces to Kent oast houses, Sussex tile-hanging and Hampshire thatch, the South East has a huge mix of roofs. Reading is part of that mix.
Caversham: If you live near a park such as Eldon Square, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall. If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Grace Church, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Different roofs, different checks
Flaunching
We frequently find flaunching that has cracked or broken away. Caught early, it’s often a small job.
Lead flashings
Where the chimney meets the roof slopes, lead flashings keep water out. The survey looks at whether the lead is tight, sound and well fixed.
What this survey can’t tell you
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the survey around it.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed in advance. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.
Why get it checked now?
A damp chimney breast seldom dries out until the cause is found. It can spoil decoration and plaster. Knowing whether it’s the flaunching, flashings, brickwork or ventilation means the right fix can be planned.
Before you book any surveyor
- Which limits apply to the survey
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What happens after the report arrives
- Whether you get a written report with photos
DIY checks: what’s safe
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Reading
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Damp on a chimney breast typically 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 records the likely cause.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
An unused stack still needs to stay weathertight and ventilated. If it’s capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. Our survey records its condition and how it’s capped, so you can plan what to do with it.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
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.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Not unless it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain is normally fine; heavy rain and wind are different. Strong wind or a downpour can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.