West Berkshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Colthrop, West Berkshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Colthrop, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Get in touch for a price.
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- A stack that appears to lean
Colthrop: your questions answered
I let a flat near Thatcham station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, that is a common request. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Colthrop?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
It depends on its condition and your plans. The survey shows its condition and how it’s been capped. If you are thinking of removing it, check with the council first in a conservation area or on a listed building.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it doesn’t include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
How long is the visit?
It typically takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. We’ll confirm the timing as you book.
How can you see the top of the stack?
We look from ground level, from windows and from the loft where it is safe. Where it applies, our Premium Survey adds a drone inspection for a closer view. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Usually it’s water getting in from outside, or condensation in a sealed stack. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped and records the likely cause.
How a chimney survey works in Colthrop
If a chimney looks out of line, it is worth getting it checked. A stack may lean because the mortar on one side has weakened, which can happen over many years of use. The survey notes how the stack looks, how far it seems to lean and the state of the bricks and joints. If the stack looks like a structural issue, the report recommends a structural engineer. Common reasons to book are loose, cracked or missing pots and redundant stacks capped without ventilation, on flaunching, brick chimney stacks and shared and party-wall stacks.
Older buildings in small places like Colthrop may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Where
- Colthrop (RG19, RG18)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Colthrop
More services for Colthrop
What this survey can’t tell you
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll recommend the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
Colthrop homes and their roofs
Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Whatever the covering, it’s frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. Shaw House, about 3.5 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Colthrop. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
Landlords with a home close to Thatcham station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. The streets around a church like St Mary's Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. If you look after a building such as Francis Baily Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Colthrop is about 1 mile east of Thatcham, in West Berkshire. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Colthrop can all book chimney surveys. Our area takes in places right across West Berkshire. There’s also a page for Reading.
Here we cover the RG19 and RG18 postcode area for chimney surveys. Streets in the area include Bath Road, Ashman Road and Fokerham Road, all of which we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Crookham (2 miles south-east), Hyde End (2 miles south-east), Heads Hill (2 miles south-west), Mill Green (2 miles south) and Goose Hill (3 miles south). Further out, we also cover Newbury (4 miles west), Burghfield Common (8 miles east), Speenhamland (4 miles west), Hungerford (12 miles west), Spencers Wood (12 miles east) and Calcot (9 miles east).
Local landmarks in Colthrop
In Colthrop, that means homes and buildings near The Swan pub and Kennet School, among other places. The closest station to Colthrop is Thatcham station, about 0.5 miles south-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Old Chapel Textile Centre (2.6 miles south-west) and Donnington Castle (4.6 miles west). Open spaces near Colthrop include Thatcham Reed Beds.
What happens on the day
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. All told, expect about one to two hours at most homes, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. In a small place like Colthrop, access is normally the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before we arrive
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
Book a survey
If you are buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you’re ready.
Related advice
DIY checks: what’s safe
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. The photos show the problem and which side it’s on from the viewpoints we used.
Look at your chimneys from ground level now and then, particularly after strong winds. With binoculars, you can often see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Colthrop
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Getting in touch
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, it’s useful to mention:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
To get a price for chimney surveys in Colthrop, call 07833 053749 or email us. The address, the type of property and what you’d like to know help us price the survey accurately.