Greater London · London and the South East
Ashburton Chimney Survey
We take a careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Ashburton, with photos and a written report.
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- A chimney out of line
Chimney survey in Ashburton: what you get
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: the pots and cowls, the flaunching on top, the pointing, the brickwork and the flashings where it meets the roof. Inside, we check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft where it’s safe to reach. The findings come in a written report with photos and recommendations. We survey single stacks on houses and groups of stacks on bigger buildings. If you’re worried about pots or cowls that look unsafe and cracked or missing flaunching, we can find out what’s behind it, on lead flashings, chimney pots and cowls and brick chimney stacks alike.
London has Victorian and Edwardian terraces in almost every borough, often with slate roofs, chimney stacks shared with neighbours and gutters hidden behind parapets. Good slates can last over a hundred years, yet the nails frequently give out first and let slates slip. In Ashburton, as across London, that’s why a roof needs a careful look rather than a glance from the street. Shared chimney stacks and the lead around them are just as important to check.
After the visit, you get a written report with photographs, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- Ashburton (CR0, SE25, CR9)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
What we look for on each type of roof
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.
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. It’s normally a modest repair when it’s caught early.
Why act early in Ashburton
If you are thinking of removing or reducing a stack, it is useful to know its condition first. Changes to stacks in conservation areas or on listed buildings may need consent, so check with them first. Any roof job in Ashburton means planning around parking, neighbours and access. That is a good reason to find problems early, while there is time to plan.
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book us in Ashburton
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Prices that include VAT
What we do, step by step
We check the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there’s 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. All in, the survey usually takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so the back of the roof is often seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, tell us as you book.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We check the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
How to prepare
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
Booking a survey
When you are ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Advice
DIY checks: what’s safe
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
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. Do not go up yourself.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Ashburton
Outer London has lots of Victorian and Edwardian terraces with slate roofs, but also a great many interwar semis, frequently with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles. Bay roofs, hip ridges and dormers from later loft conversions are the details that set these houses apart. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. About 2.4 miles south-east lies Addington Palace, a reminder of how long the area around Ashburton has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Landlords with a home close to Norwood Junction station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. If you look after a building such as St Thomas Becket Catholic Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Ashburton is about 6 miles south of New Cross, in Greater London. Anywhere in Ashburton, we can come and survey your property. Our Greater London coverage includes Ashburton and the places around it. We also survey roofs in London.
Surveys in CR0, SE25 and CR9 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Long Lane, Tudor Road and Coe Avenue or anywhere close by, we can survey it. If you are just outside Ashburton, we cover Woodside (1 mile north), Addiscombe (1 mile south), Shirley Oaks (1 mile south-east), Monks Orchard (1 mile south-east) and Shirley (1 mile south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as London (8 miles north), City of Westminster (9 miles north-west), Marylebone (10 miles north), Kensington (10 miles north-west), St Pancras (10 miles north) and Shoreditch (10 miles north).
What’s near Ashburton
In Ashburton, that means homes and buildings near Oasis Academy Shirley Park, Ashburton Park and The Beehive pub, among other places. The nearest railway station is Norwood Junction station, roughly 0.7 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include National Psychosis Unit (1.7 miles east) and Whitgift Centre (1.6 miles south-west). The countryside around Ashburton includes Duppas Hill and Bramley Bank.
Common roof problems in Ashburton
Flashings seal the gap where a stack passes through the roof. They can lift in wind, crack with age or pull out of the mortar joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead is also a target for theft.
We are often asked to look at:
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- A stack that appears to lean
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Staining on walls around the chimney
Living close to Ashburton Park is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Before you book anyone
- What exactly goes into their report
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
FAQs for Ashburton
I let a flat near Norwood Junction station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, letting agents and landlords book with us as well as owners. You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details, including who will give access on the day.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Ashburton?
In much of London, parking needs planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day run more smoothly, so mention what’s available as you book.
Will you check the loft?
Normally, if there’s one and it can be reached safely. The roof space can show things the outside can’t, such as damp timbers, staining or daylight.
What happens next?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
A leaning stack should be looked at. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
Do I need to be at home?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access; we will agree the details when booking.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We carry out surveys on weekdays and at weekends. To arrange a date, ring 07833 053749 or email us.