West Berkshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Chilton Foliat
We take a careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Chilton Foliat, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
Chimney survey in Chilton Foliat: what you get
A chimney stands up above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Over the years, the flaunching cracks, the pointing wears and flashings lift. That lets water into the brickwork, which can show up as damp on a chimney breast or in the roof space. We record what we find with photographs and recommendations. We survey lead flashings, brick chimney stacks and flaunching, and people most often book us about mortar washing out of the joints and spalled or crumbling bricks.
Somewhere as small as Chilton Foliat, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it is usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Chilton Foliat (RG17)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Rendered stacks
Cracked render can let water in and trap it behind. We record any cracking and where it is.
Brick stacks
Many older stacks were built with lime mortar. We note where repairs should match the original mortar.
Why act early in Chilton Foliat
If you are buying, find out about the stacks before you exchange. After that, any work is yours to arrange and pay for. Our report gives you facts to raise with the seller or agent. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Chilton Foliat, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can safely be seen and the package you choose.
Why book with us
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Photographs and a written report every time
- An independent look at the roof
Read our cost guide or two real surveys.
Common questions in Chilton Foliat
I let a flat near Hungerford station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and agents book with us as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the building, including who will give access on the day.
Do you cover smaller places like Chilton Foliat?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
What does a chimney survey cover?
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.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
It depends on its condition and your plans. We record how the stack is doing and whether it’s capped with ventilation. If you are thinking of removing it, check with the council first in a conservation area or on a listed building.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. If one is needed, the report says so.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. Shared stacks are common on terraced and semi-detached houses. We record the stack as far as we can see it and flag anything on the neighbour’s side.
Nearby places to Chilton Foliat
More services for Chilton Foliat
Landlords, agents and block managers in Chilton Foliat
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Let us know about it when you book and we will plan the survey around it.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Chilton Foliat. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Chimney surveys in Chilton Foliat: local notes
With Ramsbury Manor about 4 miles west, Chilton Foliat sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
If you own a rental within reach of Hungerford station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. If you look after a building such as Chilton Foliat Church of England Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Chilton Foliat is about 10 miles west of Newbury, in West Berkshire. Anywhere in Chilton Foliat, we can come and survey your property. Our West Berkshire coverage includes Chilton Foliat. There’s also a page for Reading.
Chimney surveys in RG17 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Popham Close, Stag Hill and Whitelocks Piece and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Leverton (1 mile south-east), Upper Eddington (1 mile south-east), Eddington (2 miles south-east), Hungerford (2 miles south-east) and Woodlands St Mary (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Newbury (10 miles east), Thatcham (12 miles east), Speenhamland (9 miles east), Lambourn (5 miles north), Shaw (10 miles east) and Kingsclere (15 miles south-east).
Near you in Chilton Foliat
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to John O'Gaunt School and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Hungerford station, roughly 1.7 miles south-east. Open spaces near Chilton Foliat include Watts Bank.
How it works
When we arrive, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you’d like to know. After that, we look at everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. The survey usually takes about one to two hours at most homes, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Older rural homes like those around Chilton Foliat can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- 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 photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Leave side gates unlocked
Arrange a survey
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Honest limits
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will point you to the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Height and safe access
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT.
What to let us know when you contact us
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Anything about access we should know
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
We confirm the exact price before booking, so you know the cost up front. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.