West Berkshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Chapel Row, West Berkshire
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Chapel Row. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
When to book a survey in Chapel Row
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We note what’s visible in the loft space and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Flaunching that has broken away
If you look after a building like Woolhampton C.E. Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Before booking anyone
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- What the survey won’t cover
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Chapel Row
A damp patch on a chimney breast does not always come from the same place. Water may be getting in at the top through cracked flaunching or an uncapped pot, through the brickwork, or at the flashings. Moisture trapped inside a stack with no ventilation can also cause damp. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause. You then know where to start. If you’ve noticed pots or cowls that look unsafe and lifted or split lead flashings, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Older buildings in small places like Chapel Row may be listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
The report records the chimney stack as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Chapel Row (RG7)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a written report with photos, sent to you by email. As for time on site, it normally takes an hour or two at most homes, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Cottages and farmhouses around Chapel Row often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We look at every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
How to prepare
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Find any records of previous roof work
Book a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings
Where the chimney meets the roof slopes, lead flashings keep water out. We check for lifting, splits and gaps in the joints.
Flaunching
Sitting at the very top, flaunching is fully exposed. We look for cracks, gaps around the pots and missing pieces.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Which survey package you book
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Booking your survey
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- When you need the report by
- What kind of property and roof it is
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Chapel Row
Can a landlord with a rental near Midgham station book a roof survey?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
How do I find out if my home in Chapel Row is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. We survey the stack and its weathering, not the flue. The flue should be checked by a sweep, or by a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
What do you check on a chimney?
Every part of the stack we can see from safe positions: from the pots and flaunching down to the flashings. We also note leaning, redundant stacks and damp inside.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Local roofs in Chapel Row
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it is listed or in a conservation area. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas.
If you live in an older home near Douai Abbey Church, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. Landlords with a home close to Midgham station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Chapel Row is about 4 miles east of Thatcham, in West Berkshire. We carry out chimney surveys in Chapel Row for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. We cover towns and villages across West Berkshire, from the larger towns to small villages. For surveys nearby, see our Reading page.
We work across the RG7 postcode area for chimney surveys and the streets around it. You’ll find streets such as Hatch Close, Paradise Lane and Hatch Lane, all of which we cover. Other places close to Chapel Row include Upper Woolhampton (1 mile south-east), Midgham Green (1 mile south-west), Beenham (1 mile east), Tutts Clump (1 mile north-east) and Beenham Stocks (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Newbury (6 miles west), Thatcham (4 miles west), Burghfield Common (5 miles east), Speenhamland (6 miles west), Hungerford (15 miles west) and Spencers Wood (9 miles east).
Local landmarks in Chapel Row
We work in homes and buildings around The Bladebone Inn, among other places. Chapel Row’s nearest station is Midgham station, roughly 1.7 miles south. Nearby you will also find West Berkshire Community Hospital (5 miles west) and Yattendon Castle (3.5 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Hosehill Lake and Nature Discovery Centre.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Chapel Row
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the chimney stack, with photos, useful for planning maintenance.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Also near Chapel Row
More services for Chapel Row
Should I look at the roof myself first?
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.