West Berkshire · London and the South East
Burghfield Common Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching around Burghfield Common, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Mortar washing out of the joints
About our chimney survey in Burghfield Common
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and the flashings at the roof line. 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. We survey brick chimney stacks, flaunching and chimney breasts, and common reasons people get in touch are damaged chimney pots and cowls and a chimney out of line.
In a smaller place like Burghfield Common, homes range from older cottages to bungalows and newer houses. Coverings range from slate and clay tiles on older homes to concrete tiles on many later ones. Chimneys, valleys and gutters on older homes often need the most attention. Nails and battens under older coverings often give out before the slates or tiles themselves.
If any part of the chimney stack couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Burghfield Common (RG7)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Common roof problems in Burghfield Common
A stack takes the weather from every direction. Frost works into cracks in the flaunching and pointing, and rain soaks into worn brickwork. People normally call us when they notice damp or a problem with the stack, or before a purchase.
Problems we come across often include:
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- A stack that appears to lean
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Is VAT included in the price?
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- What happens after the report arrives
Useful tips for Burghfield Common property owners
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Some pointers:
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Make sure fixings on the stack are secure
Questions about the findings are always welcome. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. Early signs are easier to trace.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Burghfield Common
Historic houses like Stratfield Saye House, about 4.4 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around Burghfield Common goes. 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 the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
For landlords with property near Mortimer station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. Anyone responsible for a site like Garland Junior School will know that large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Burghfield Common is about 5 miles south-west of Reading, in West Berkshire. Wherever you are in Burghfield Common, we can come and survey your property. Our West Berkshire coverage includes Burghfield Common.
Chimney surveys in RG7 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. That includes homes and businesses on Ragdale, Oakdene and Badgers Glade and the roads around them. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Goddard's Green (1 mile south-east), Mortimer (2 miles south), Wokefield (2 miles east), Stratfield Mortimer (2 miles south-east) and Mortimer West End (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Newbury (11 miles west), Thatcham (8 miles west), Speenhamland (11 miles west), Spencers Wood (4 miles east), Calcot (3 miles north) and Shaw (11 miles west). Burghfield Common is one of the larger places we cover in West Berkshire.
Local landmarks in Burghfield Common
Around Burghfield Common, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Willink School, The Rising Sun pub and The Willink School and the streets around them. The closest station to Burghfield Common is Mortimer station, about 2.2 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Battle Hospital (4.9 miles north-east) and Thames Valley Police Museum (1.6 miles north-west). Open spaces near Burghfield Common include Hosehill Lake and Fobney Island Wetland Reserve.
Burghfield Common: your questions answered
Is Burghfield Common within the area you cover?
Yes. Burghfield Common is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Can a landlord with a rental near Mortimer station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and letting agents book with us as well as owners. You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a few details.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
It depends on its condition and your plans. The survey shows its condition and how it’s been capped. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need consent.
How long does the survey take?
It typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. The written report follows by email.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. We check the parts we can see safely and the parts you can give us access to. Where a problem appears to be on next door’s side, we note it, so you can discuss it with them.
Roof by roof
Lead flashings
Flashings can lift in wind or pull out of their mortar joints. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. We record any cracking and where it is.
What we do, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photos, emailed to you. On timing, it typically takes about 1–2 hours at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. For a survey in Burghfield Common, we agree the time, the access and parking before the day. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. Let us know about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Getting a price
If you are buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you’re ready.
Related advice
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Also in Burghfield Common
For landlords and managing agents
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Burghfield Common. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.