Windsor and Maidenhead · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Bray
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Bray, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
About our chimney survey in Bray
A chimney survey looks at the stack and everything around it: the pots and cowls, the flaunching on top, the pointing, the brickwork and the flashings where it meets the roof. We also look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. Common reasons to book are disused chimneys trapping moisture and gaps in the mortar around the pots, across lead flashings, chimney pots and cowls and shared and party-wall stacks.
Somewhere as small as Bray, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs frequently need the most attention.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Bray (SL6)
- Region
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey can’t tell you
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Keep these in mind:
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Flue inspections or sweeping
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Bray
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
How we price chimney surveys
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- House, block, shop or office
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 including VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What we need to know
We will typically ask about:
- When you need the report by
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- What’s prompted the survey
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Nearby places to Bray
What else we do in Bray
What we do, step by step
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. The whole visit usually takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Somewhere as small as Bray, access is frequently the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can be seen safely.
- Every part we can see is looked at: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Let us know about parking near the property
Getting a price
For a price for chimney surveys in Bray, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us price the survey accurately.
Related advice
Do you need a chimney survey in Bray?
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which can make a stack lean.
We’re frequently asked to look at:
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Mortar washing out of the joints
Homes near green spaces such as Braywick Park can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Their insurance cover
- What exactly goes into their report
- Is VAT included in the price?
Local roofs in Bray
Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. With Dorney Court about 1.3 miles east, Bray 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.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near St Michael's Church, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. If you let a flat or house near Taplow station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Bray is about 2 miles south-east of Maidenhead, in Windsor and Maidenhead. Bray gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a proper look at whatever is safely visible, photos and a clear written report. Across Windsor and Maidenhead, we cover Bray and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Reading page.
We work across SL6 for chimney surveys. You’ll find streets like High Street, Old Mill Lane and Beaufort Place, all of which we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Dorney Reach (1 mile east), Lake End (1 mile east), Taplow (2 miles north), Dorney (2 miles east) and Hitchambury (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Windsor (4 miles south-east), North Ascot (6 miles south), Cookham (4 miles north), Furze Platt (3 miles north-west), Dedworth (3 miles south-east) and Broomhall (9 miles south).
What’s near Bray
In Bray, that means homes and buildings near Braywick Park, The Fat Duck pub and Desborough College. The nearest railway station is Taplow station, roughly 1.3 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include The Reitlinger Bequest Museum (1.1 miles north) and Windsor Castle (4.3 miles south-east). For a walk, there is Bray Pit and Taplow Lake.
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney pots and cowls
Each pot is bedded into the flaunching, often with a cowl or cap on top. The survey looks for cracked, loose or missing pots and cowls.
Flaunching
The sloping mortar around the pots is called flaunching. Once it cracks, water can get straight into the brickwork.
Before and after the survey
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
You get the report by email and can pass it to whoever does the work. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo, so it is easy to follow.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Bray
How do I find out if my home in Bray is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
I let a flat near Taplow station. Can you check the roof?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
Have it checked rather than leaving it. Leaning frequently comes from mortar breaking down unevenly. We record its condition with photographs, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it is stable.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
How do I book a survey in Bray?
Simply ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
What does a roof survey cost?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose, confirmed before anything is booked.
What do I do with the report?
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.