Wokingham · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Charvil
An experienced roof surveyor for chimney surveys in Charvil. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- A stack that appears to lean
- Lifted or split lead flashings
How a chimney survey works in Charvil
If you’re buying a home with chimneys, it’s worth knowing their condition before you exchange. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. We’re often asked to look into staining on walls around the chimney and cracked or missing flaunching, across lead flashings, shared and party-wall stacks and flaunching.
Around Charvil, older cottages sit alongside bungalows and newer houses. Older roofs can have slate, clay tiles or other traditional coverings, while many later ones have concrete tiles. Chimneys, valleys and gutters on older homes often need the most attention, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. The fixings under an older roof frequently fail before good slates or tiles do.
The report doesn’t just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend.
- Location
- Charvil (RG10)
- Region
- Wokingham
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes an hour or two for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. A visit to Charvil is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed ahead of time. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
Before the survey
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
If you’re buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
Related advice
Roof by roof
Flaunching
Sitting at the very top, flaunching is fully exposed. We look for cracks, gaps around the pots and missing pieces.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Where a breast has been taken out, we look at what supports the stack. A structural engineer should confirm whether it’s adequate.
For landlords and managing agents
Landlords, agents and building managers in Charvil and across Wokingham can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.
Checking the roof from ground level
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
More services for Charvil
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Charvil
Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
Trees in and around Loddon Nature Reserve shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls. Anyone responsible for a site like Waingels College will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. The streets around a church such as St Patrick's Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Charvil is about 2 miles north of Woodley, in Wokingham. We survey roofs in Charvil and the rest of Wokingham. Our Wokingham coverage includes Charvil.
Every address in RG10 is covered for chimney surveys. You will find streets like Old Bath Road, Wenlock Edge and Pipistrelle Way, all of which we cover. If you’re just outside Charvil, we cover Twyford (1 mile east), Ruscombe (1 mile east), Whistley Green (1 mile south-east), Woodley (2 miles south) and Shiplake (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Reading (4 miles south-west), Wokingham (5 miles south), Earley (4 miles south-west), Crowthorne (8 miles south-east), Lower Earley (4 miles south-west) and Winnersh (3 miles south).
Landmarks near Charvil
We work in homes and buildings around The Piggott School, Polehampton Church of England Infant School and The Wagon And Horses Public House and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Twyford station, about 0.9 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Royal Berkshire Hospital (3.7 miles south-west) and Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (3.6 miles south-west). For a walk, there’s Sonning Hill and South Lake.
What happens if roof problems are left?
If you’re thinking of removing or reducing a stack, it helps to know its condition first. Changes to stacks in conservation areas or on listed buildings may need consent and the council can advise. Tradespeople may need to travel further to a smaller place like Charvil, so it’s useful to plan roof work rather than call someone out in a hurry. A survey gives you that notice.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
What you get with us
- Prices that include VAT
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 98% customer satisfaction
- An independent view of the roof
Take a look at our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
How we price chimney surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- Which survey package you book
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How big the roof is
- Height and safe access
Prices start from £150, including VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both inc. VAT. You’ll know the price for your roof before booking.
What we need to know
What helps most when you contact us:
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- What’s prompted the survey
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Common questions in Charvil
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Twyford station?
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 Charvil 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.
Do you need to go on the roof to check the chimney?
We use safe viewpoints rather than climbing onto the stack. Where applicable, our Premium Survey adds a drone inspection for a closer view. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it is applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
What insurance do you have?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
How do I book a survey in Charvil?
Just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address. We’ll ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Damp on a chimney breast typically 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.