Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Bowcombe
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching across Bowcombe, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- A stack that appears to lean
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
About our chimney survey in Bowcombe
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It isn’t a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. For the flue itself, you will need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. If something we see points to the flue, we’ll say so. We are frequently asked to look into gaps in the mortar around the pots and flashings pulling away from the stack, across flaunching, chimney breasts and brick chimney stacks.
Somewhere as small as Bowcombe, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs frequently need the most attention.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Where
- Bowcombe (PO30)
- Wider area
- Isle of Wight
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the price in Bowcombe
We confirm the exact price before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
What we need to know
When you call or email, these details help:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- The address and postcode of the property
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or email us, let us know about the property and we will recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Honest limits
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Conditions inside walls
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will suggest the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
Nearby places to Bowcombe
Also in Bowcombe
Roof by roof
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We record their condition with photos.
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. Cracks are photographed and noted.
What a chimney survey looks like in Bowcombe
Bowcombe lies within about 5 miles of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. Historic houses such as Carisbrooke Castle, about 1.2 miles north-east, show how far back building in the area around Bowcombe goes. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Christ The King College, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. If you live in an older home near Church of St. Nicholas in Castro, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Bowcombe is about 2 miles south-west of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. If you are in Bowcombe, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Bowcombe is one of the towns and villages in the Isle of Wight we cover for chimney surveys. We also survey roofs in Portsmouth.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: PO30. Close by, we survey roofs in Plaish (1 mile north-east), Clatterford (1 mile north-east), Carisbrooke (1 mile north-east), Gunville (1 mile north-east) and Gatcombe (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Ryde (8 miles east), Cowes (6 miles north), Sandown (8 miles east), Shanklin (8 miles south-east), Ventnor (8 miles south-east) and East Cowes (6 miles north-east). Remote addresses need a little more planning, so please mention your location when you phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Local landmarks in Bowcombe
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Blacksmiths Arms, among other places. A little further out are Whitecroft Hospital (1.6 miles east) and Isle of Wight Music Museum (2.3 miles north-east). Open spaces near Bowcombe include Brighstone Down.
What we do, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the chimney stack as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It normally takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Cottages and farmhouses around Bowcombe frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Getting a price
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email, and we will ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Advice
Questions from Bowcombe
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Bowcombe?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Bowcombe?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed as you book.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
Do not ignore it. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down. We record its condition with photos, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it is stable.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Damp on a chimney breast normally means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. The survey looks at the stack, the flashings and the capping, and record what we find.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
What you can safely check yourself
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Make sure fixings on the stack are sound and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Less load on the stack means less strain in wind.