Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Clare Market
Independent chimney surveys in Clare Market. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Worn or missing pointing
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
How a chimney survey works in Clare Market
If a chimney looks out of line, it is worth getting it checked. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, often after years of flue gases and damp. We record the lean and the condition of the brickwork and pointing. Where it may be a structural concern, we’ll recommend a structural engineer. If you’re worried about spalled or crumbling bricks and damp patches on chimney breasts, we can find out what’s behind it.
Much of London’s housing is flats, in converted houses or purpose-built blocks, so roofs are often shared between several households. Whoever looks after the building needs a clear picture of the roof, chimneys and gutters. A defect on a shared roof can reach more than one flat. A report gives everyone the same picture to plan from, with photographs.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- Clare Market (WC2H, W1D, WC2B)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a photo-illustrated written report, emailed to you. As for time on site, most surveys take between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Surveys in Clare Market can be booked for any day of the week. It helps if you can point us to a visitor permit or a nearby bay. Upstairs rooms at the back are useful too, as they often give the best view of a rear addition.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We check the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before we arrive
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
Arrange a survey
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and give us some details about the property and we will suggest the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
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Tips that help
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
Prices for chimney surveys in Clare Market
When we price a survey, we consider:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Which survey package you book
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The roof’s overall size
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Helping us price your survey
We will typically ask about:
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
Towns and villages near Clare Market
Other services in Clare Market
Your questions about chimney surveys in Clare Market
Will parking be an issue for a roof survey in Clare Market?
In much of London, parking needs planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day run more smoothly, so mention what’s available as you book.
How do I find out if my home in Clare Market is listed?
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.
How much is a survey?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
We look from ground level, from windows and from the loft where it is safe. A drone inspection is part of the Premium Survey where applicable. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
How soon will I get the report?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. Each one is emailed, ready to forward.
Do I need to be at home?
That depends on the survey. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we will agree the details when booking.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes, plenty. Pictures sit next to the findings they show.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Damp patches on chimney breasts often point to a problem above. We check the breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Chimney surveys in Clare Market: local notes
With Dr Johnson's House about 0.4 miles east, Clare Market 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 the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. Many have butterfly roofs draining to a central valley gutter, with parapet walls and gutters hidden behind them. If your home in Clare Market is one of them, lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are part of the picture too. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
If you live near a park such as Lincoln's Inn Fields, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls. For an older house near a landmark such as Enon Chapel, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near Gabriel's Wharf, a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks.
Clare Market is about 1 mile south of St Pancras, in Greater London. Whether the building in Clare Market is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages.
Every address in WC2H, W1D and WC2B is within our area for chimney surveys. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Drury Lane, New Square and Old Square. Clare Market is on the A4 and A301, so it is easy for us to get to. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Aldwych (1 mile south), Temple Bar (1 mile east), Covent Garden (1 mile south-west), Temple (1 mile south-east) and Seven Dials (1 mile west). Further out, we also cover Kensington (4 miles west), Walthamstow (6 miles north-east), Hampstead (4 miles north-west), Ruislip (13 miles west), Stockwell (3 miles south) and Orpington (13 miles south-east).
What’s near Clare Market
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Lincoln's Inn Fields, London Nautical School and LSE Shaw Library and the streets around them. Nearby too are Ye Old White Horse pub (less than half a mile north) and Mercers' School (under half a mile north-east). The nearest railway station is London Charing Cross station, roughly 0.6 miles south-west. A little further out are St Philip's Hospital (less than half a mile north-west) and Montfichet's Tower (0.7 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Ludgate Hill and St. James's Park Lake.
What this survey cannot tell you
Every survey has limits, and it’s better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings