Southampton · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Bitterne
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Bitterne and the rest of Southampton. We survey seven days a week.
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
Chimney survey in Bitterne
Redundant chimneys are common, particularly where fires have been replaced by central heating. Even when it is not used, a stack has to stay weathertight. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. If you are worried about bricks with flaking faces and flaunching that has broken away, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In a smaller place like Bitterne, some roofs stand more exposed to wind and rain than in a built-up town. Ridge tiles, verges, chimney stacks and flashings take the worst of it. A close look shows whether anything has started to loosen. A loose ridge tile or slate gives the wind something to catch, and others soon follow.
If any part of the chimney stack couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Bitterne (SO18, SO19)
- Wider area
- Southampton
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Rendered stacks
A rendered stack can mask problems in the bricks below. We look for cracks, hollow areas and staining.
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We record their condition with photos.
Nearby places to Bitterne
What else we do in Bitterne
Can I check my roof myself?
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 applicable.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
The survey, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes about one to two hours at most homes, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Being in a smaller place like Bitterne does not change how the visit works: we look from ground level, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it is safe. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- 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.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before we arrive
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Keep pets in another room
Getting a price
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email, let us know about the property and we will recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Read more
Questions from Bitterne
Is my home in Bitterne listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Bitterne?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there is more wind, and more salt in the air. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it usually shows.
What happens next?
We email you the written report with photos and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Do you inspect the flue?
No. A flue inspection, sweep or gas safety check is a separate job. We look at the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside, and we will say if anything suggests the flue needs checking.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Let us know about it as you book and we’ll explain what’s needed.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We look at everything that can safely be seen: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where applicable. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Bitterne
Bitterne is within about 2 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. A number of Hampshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
With South Stoneham House about 1.8 miles north-west, the area around Bitterne has a long history. Older roofs nearby frequently mix original materials with later repairs, and the survey shows where each one is. For landlords with property near Bitterne station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Bitterne is about 1 mile east of Southampton, in Southampton. We visit Bitterne as part of our work across Southampton, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Across Southampton, we cover Bitterne and the places around it.
We work across the SO18 and SO19 postcode area for chimney surveys. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Bath Road, Ruby Road and Dean Road and the roads around them. Being close to the A3024, Bitterne is simple for us to get to. We also cover the places around Bitterne: Northam (1 mile west), Bitterne Park (1 mile north-west), Itchen (1 mile south-west), Midanbury (1 mile north) and Harefield (1 mile north-east). Further out, we also cover Shirley (3 miles west), Regents Park (3 miles west), Maybush (4 miles west), Coxford (4 miles west), Freemantle (3 miles west) and Lordswood (4 miles north-west).
Near you in Bitterne
Around Bitterne, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Itchen College, Riverside Park and St Mary's Independent School. For rail, the closest station is Bitterne station, roughly 0.7 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include Bitterne Local History Society Heritage And Research Centre (within half a mile north-west) and Marlands Shopping Centre (2 miles west). The countryside around Bitterne includes Netley Common.
Common roof problems in Bitterne
Flashings seal the gap where a stack passes through the roof. With age they can lift, split or come away from the joints. When flashings fail, water often shows up in the loft or on the chimney breast. Lead is also a target for theft.
We are often asked to look at:
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Worn or missing pointing
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
Anyone responsible for a site like Bitterne CE Primary School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- When you’ll get the report
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Will the report include photos?
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The roof’s overall size
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included.
Getting in touch
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- The property’s address and postcode
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
For a price for chimney surveys in Bitterne, phone 07833 053749 or email us. A few details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Bitterne
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.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.