Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Coombe, Buckinghamshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching across Coombe, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
How it works
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. All in, the survey normally takes between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Rural addresses near Coombe can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
How to prepare
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Arrange a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Advice
Chimney survey in Coombe
We inspect chimneys from wherever they can safely be seen: from ground level, from windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there is access. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where applicable. If we can’t see part of the stack, the report makes that clear. Each defect is recorded with a photo and a plain description. We survey lead flashings, flaunching and chimney breasts, and common reasons people get in touch are lifted or split lead flashings and frost-damaged brickwork on the stack.
In a village or hamlet like Coombe, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Coombe (HP17)
- Region
- Buckinghamshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a chimney survey looks like in Coombe
Some villages in Buckinghamshire still have thatched roofs. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. If your 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, so check with the council.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Peter and St Paul, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. If you own a rental within reach of Little Kimble station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. Anyone responsible for a site like Great Kimble Church of England School will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Coombe is about 5 miles south of Aylesbury, in Buckinghamshire. We carry out chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Coombe. Our area takes in places right across Buckinghamshire, large and small. Oxford is in our area too.
We cover every part of HP17 for chimney surveys and the streets around it. If you are just outside Coombe, we cover Butler's Cross (1 mile north), Ellesborough (1 mile north-west), Chalkshire (1 mile north), Terrick (1 mile north) and Nash Lee (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover Aylesbury (5 miles north), High Wycombe (8 miles south), Chesham (8 miles east), Marlow (12 miles south), Amersham (9 miles south-east) and Beaconsfield (11 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Coombe
In Coombe, that means homes and buildings near John Colet School and The Russell Arms. For rail, the closest station is Little Kimble station, roughly 1.3 miles west of the centre. A little further out are Little Kimble Motte (1 mile west) and Trenchard Museum (3.1 miles north-east). The countryside around Coombe includes Brush Hill Local Nature Reserve and Coombe Hill.
Tips from our surveys
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
With a shared stack, the report can help when talking to next door. It shows what we found and where, as far as we could see.
Look at your chimneys from ground level now and then, particularly after strong winds. With binoculars, you can frequently see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.
Places near Coombe
What else we do in Coombe
What this survey cannot tell you
No survey can tell you everything, and it’s better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Hidden damage within the stack
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll suggest the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents and landlords in Coombe book surveys as well as householders. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the chimney stack, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
Coombe questions
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Little Kimble station?
Yes, landlords and letting agents book with us as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the building, including who will give access on the day.
Is my home in Coombe listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It depends on the weather and the survey. Strong wind or a downpour can make access unsafe and ground a drone, so we’d move the date with you.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. Shared stacks are common on terraced and semi-detached houses. We survey what we can see safely, and note anything that seems to involve next door.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
Typically it is water getting in from outside, or condensation in a sealed stack. The survey looks at the stack, the flashings and the capping, and record what we find.
How long is the visit?
It usually takes about one to two hours at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. The report follows by email.
What affects the price in Coombe
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- House, block, shop or office
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, including VAT. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Getting in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- The address and postcode of the property
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- When you need the report by
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and give us some details about the property and we will explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney pots and cowls
Each pot is bedded into the flaunching, often with a cowl or cap on top. The survey looks for cracked, loose or missing pots and cowls.
Flaunching
We often find flaunching that has cracked or broken away. Caught early, it is often a small job.