Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Balham
Find out what’s going on with the chimney stack before you spend money on it. We carry out chimney surveys in Balham.
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
What we do, step by step
It’s useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take about 1–2 hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so the back of the roof is frequently seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. Mention any building rules, key holders or managing agents when booking.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We check 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
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
Arrange a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
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Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Balham
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is frequently shared with next door. We check whatever is safely visible and what the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it, so you can talk to them. You get a photo-illustrated written report and what we recommend. We survey chimney breasts, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney pots and cowls, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are gaps where the stack meets the roof and frost-damaged brickwork on the stack.
A London butterfly roof slopes down to a central valley gutter that drains to the back of the house. From the street you see only a parapet wall, so blocked outlets and split linings go unnoticed until water comes through a ceiling. If your home in Balham has one, it needs checking from somewhere that can actually see it.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Place
- Balham (SW12, SW17, SW4)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How we price chimney surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
Every price we give includes VAT. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the exact price before booking.
What to tell us when you contact us
You do not need to know any roofing terms. It is enough to tell us:
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
How the survey changes by roof type
Brick stacks
Many older stacks were built with lime mortar. Repairs should suit the original materials, which we mention where relevant.
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
What this survey can’t tell you
It’s a careful look at the chimney stack, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
Do you need a chimney survey in Balham?
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. In time, the pots can become loose.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
For landlords with property near Balham station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What insurance they carry
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- What experience they bring
What happens if roof problems are left?
If you are thinking of removing or reducing a stack, it’s useful to know its condition first. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need permission from the council and the council can advise. In a London terrace or conversion, a roof defect rarely stays your problem alone: failed flashings and blocked valley gutters can send water into more than one home. Dealing with it early is far less disruptive.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we’ll tell you which fits.
Why us?
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Surveys seven days a week
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
Take a look at our cost guide or what we found on two real jobs.
Local roofs in Balham
Many homes in inner London are Victorian and Edwardian terraces, frequently with Welsh slate roofs. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that cannot be seen from the pavement. Shared chimney stacks, party-wall upstands and lead work come with this kind of house. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. With Carlyle's House about 2.9 miles north, Balham sits in an area with a long building history. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. Homes near green spaces such as Wandsworth Common can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn.
Balham is about 2 miles south-west of Stockwell, in Greater London. If you are in Balham, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Balham is one of the places in Greater London we cover for chimney surveys.
Chimney surveys in SW12, SW17 and SW4 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We cover properties on Lynn Road, Weir Road and Byrne Road and the roads around them. Close by, we survey roofs in Grange Mills (1 mile north-east), Hyde farm estate (1 mile east), Clapham Park (1 mile north-east), Streatham Park (1 mile south-east) and Tooting Bec (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (5 miles north-east), City of Westminster (5 miles north), Marylebone (5 miles north), Kensington (4 miles north-west), St Pancras (6 miles north) and Shoreditch (7 miles north-east).
What’s near Balham
In Balham, that means homes and buildings near Oak Lodge School, Wandsworth Common and The Bedford pub and the streets around them. There is a railway station in Balham itself: Balham station. Other landmarks nearby include St James' Hospital (0.5 miles west) and London Sewing Machine Museum (0.6 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Knight's Hill and Battersea Park Lake.
Questions from Balham
Is my home in Balham listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
I let a flat near Balham station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Will you check the loft?
Typically, if there is one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
What does the report include?
Written findings with photos, explaining the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our recommendations, with the most urgent first where relevant. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
Is Balham in your area?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and that includes Balham.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not unless it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.