Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Chislehurst, Greater London
Chimney surveys around Chislehurst, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Worn or missing pointing
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
Checking the roof from the ground
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date.
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
How a chimney survey works in Chislehurst
Damp on a chimney breast can have several causes. It might come in at the top, through worn pointing or porous bricks, or where the flashings meet the roof. Condensation inside an unventilated stack is another common cause. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause. You then know where to start. If you’ve noticed flaunching that has broken away and a chimney out of line, we can find out what’s behind it.
A London butterfly roof slopes down to a central valley gutter that drains to the back of the house. Hidden behind the parapet, that gutter can block or split without anyone seeing it. For a house in Chislehurst with this kind of roof, the hidden gutter is one of the first things to check.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Place
- Chislehurst (BR7, BR1, BR2, SE9)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings
Some older stacks have mortar fillets instead of lead. They crack with age, and we check them too.
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
Other services in Chislehurst
Chislehurst homes and their roofs
Further from the centre, London’s housing takes in interwar semis with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles as well as slate-roofed terraces. Hips, bay roofs and later loft conversions are typical of those semis, if your home is one of them. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. Bromley Palace, about 2 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Chislehurst. Older homes in the wider area frequently 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.
If you live near a park such as Chislehurst Common, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching. Take a building like Red Hill Primary School: long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Chislehurst is about 3 miles north-west of Orpington, in Greater London. Bookings from Chislehurst are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Chislehurst is one of the towns and villages in Greater London where we work. There is also a page for London.
Every address in BR7, BR1, BR2 and SE9 is within our area for chimney surveys. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Chislehurst High Street, Sanderson Square and Wilderness Road or anywhere close by, we can help. Being close to the A208 and B264, Chislehurst is simple for us to get to. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Elmstead (1 mile west), Foxbury (1 mile east), Bickley (1 mile south-west), Widmore (1 mile south-west) and Coldharbour (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (9 miles north-west), City of Westminster (12 miles north-west), Marylebone (12 miles north-west), Kensington (13 miles north-west), St Pancras (11 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (10 miles north-west).
Near you in Chislehurst
We work in homes and buildings around The Queens Head pub, Coopers School and Chislehurst Common, among other places. Chislehurst’s nearest station is Chislehurst station, about 0.7 miles south-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find The Glades (2.2 miles west) and Queen Mary's Hospital (1.6 miles east). Not far away are The Tarn and Summer Hill.
Chislehurst: your questions answered
Is parking a problem for a survey in Chislehurst?
London parking needs a little planning, so let us know about permits, bays or a driveway as you book. The visit is then planned around what’s available.
Is my home in Chislehurst listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
An unused stack still needs to stay weathertight and ventilated. If it is capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. Our survey records its condition and how it is capped, so you can plan what to do with it.
What’s the best way to book?
To book, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and agree a day with you.
What’s in the report?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, backed by photographs. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely.
Do you work in Chislehurst?
Yes. We survey roofs in Chislehurst and the rest of Greater London, as part of our work across London and South East England. To book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Signs you need a chimney survey in Chislehurst
Flaunching is the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the top. Cracked flaunching lets water in, and each winter makes it worse. Loose pots can follow.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Lifted or split lead flashings
Take an older house close to Parish Church The Annunciation Of Blessed Virgin Mary: old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
What to check before booking
- What the survey won’t cover
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Will the report include photos?
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
Practical tips
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
If the report recommends a structural engineer, a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer, it will say why. That helps you brief them.
Get small mortar repairs done while they’re small. It is far simpler than rebuilding a stack later.
What we do, step by step
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so rear slopes are viewed from windows, the loft or, where a flight is allowed, by drone. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, let us know as you book.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- Every part we can see is checked: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- Where there is safe access, we check the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- The findings are written up with photos and recommendations and emailed to you.
Before the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Getting a price
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
What a survey costs
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Basic, Standard or Premium
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. The price is confirmed before you book.
Getting in touch
These details help when you contact us:
- What’s prompted the survey
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- The property’s address and postcode
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.