West Berkshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Bury's Bank, West Berkshire
We take a careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Bury's Bank, and put it all in a report with photographs.
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Cracked or missing flaunching
Chimney survey in Bury's Bank: what you get
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. 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. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. If you’re worried about mortar washing out of the joints and staining on walls around the chimney, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Older buildings in small places like Bury's Bank may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Bury's Bank (RG19)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you need to know. After that, we look at everything we can see safely, from the ground, from windows, in the loft space and by drone where applicable. The survey normally takes an hour or two at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Cottages and farmhouses around Bury's Bank often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- 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.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before we arrive
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Booking a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
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Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Bury's Bank
In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. Shaw House, about 2.2 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Bury's Bank. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years.
If you look after a building such as The Willows Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. If you own a rental within reach of Newbury Racecourse station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Bury's Bank is about 2 miles south-east of Newbury, in West Berkshire. Roofs in Bury's Bank get the same thorough look as anywhere else in West Berkshire. Across West Berkshire, we cover Bury's Bank. There’s also a page for Reading.
We cover every part of the RG19 postcode area for chimney surveys and the streets around it. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Heads Hill (1 mile south-east), Bishop's Green (1 mile south), Headley (2 miles south-east), Mill Green (3 miles south-east) and Colthrop (3 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Burghfield Common (10 miles east), Hungerford (10 miles west), Spencers Wood (14 miles east), Calcot (11 miles east), Lambourn (13 miles north-west) and Burghfield Hill (10 miles east).
Local landmarks in Bury's Bank
We work in homes and buildings around New Greenham Park and St Bartholomew's School, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Newbury Racecourse station, about 1.2 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include West Berkshire Community Hospital (1.6 miles north) and Old Chapel Textile Centre (0.9 miles south-east). Not far away are Audrey's Meadow.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings
Mortar fillets are sometimes used where lead would normally be. They crack with age, and we check them too.
Flaunching
We often find flaunching that has cracked or broken away. It is usually a modest repair when it’s caught early.
What we cannot see
It is useful to know what a survey will not do before booking:
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and does not.
What we check
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
Bury's Bank questions
I let a flat near Newbury Racecourse station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
How do I find out if my home in Bury's Bank is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Will I get photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and the report uses them to show each finding alongside our recommendations.
Is Bury's Bank in your area?
Yes. We survey roofs in Bury's Bank and the rest of West Berkshire, as part of our work across London and South East England. For a price, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
It can come from several places: water getting in at the top, through the brickwork or at the flashings, or moisture trapped in a stack with no ventilation. We look at each one and note the most likely cause.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. We check how it is capped and its condition, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Common roof problems in Bury's Bank
Flashings seal the gap where a stack passes through the roof. With age they can lift, split or come away from the joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
People typically book a survey when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Signs that a stack is leaning
Homes near green spaces such as New Greenham Park can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Before booking anyone
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Is VAT included in the price?
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
What affects the price in Bury's Bank
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- How big the roof is
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Getting in touch
Some details help us suggest the right survey and price. When you contact us, let us know:
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The property’s address and postcode
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
If you’re buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you are ready.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Bury's Bank
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the addresses.