Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Cranbrook, Greater London
We carry out chimney surveys in Cranbrook and the rest of Greater London. Surveys run seven days a week.
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Worn or missing pointing
Local roofs in Cranbrook
About 0.5 miles north lies Valentines Mansion, a reminder of how long the area around Cranbrook has been built on. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Outer London has plenty of Victorian and Edwardian terraces with slate roofs, but also a great many interwar semis, often with hipped roofs in clay or concrete tiles. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
Take an older house close to St Clement's Church: the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near Stratford Centre, a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks.
Cranbrook is about 2 miles north-east of Forest Gate, in Greater London. We carry out chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Cranbrook and the surrounding area. Across Greater London, we cover Cranbrook and the places around it. You can also see our page for London.
Every address in IG1, IG2 and E12 is covered for chimney surveys. We cover properties on Mill Road, York Road and Prior Road and the roads around them. Close by, we survey roofs in Ilford (1 mile south-east), Redbridge (1 mile north-west), Gants Hill (1 mile north-east), Little Ilford (1 mile south) and Manor Park (1 mile south). Further out, we also cover London (8 miles south-west), City of Westminster (10 miles west), Marylebone (10 miles west), Kensington (12 miles west), St Pancras (8 miles west) and Shoreditch (7 miles south-west).
Around Cranbrook
In Cranbrook, that means homes and buildings near Highlands Primary School, Great Spoon of Ilford pub and Valentines Park and the streets around them. Cranbrook’s nearest station is Ilford station, about 0.5 miles south-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Redbridge Museum (0.7 miles south-east) and Wanstead Hospital (2.1 miles north-west). For a walk, there is Ripple Nature Reserve and Hollow Pond.
About our chimney survey in Cranbrook
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It is not a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. For the flue itself, you’ll need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. We will tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. We survey chimney breasts, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney pots and cowls, and people most frequently book us about gaps where the stack meets the roof and unused flues sealed without airflow.
A London butterfly roof slopes down to a central valley gutter that drains to the back of the house. From the street you see only a parapet wall, so blocked outlets and split linings go unnoticed until water comes through a ceiling. For a house in Cranbrook with this kind of roof, the hidden gutter is one of the first things to check.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Cranbrook (IG1, IG2, E12)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the price in Cranbrook
Our packages start from £150, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
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
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
When you are ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Signs you need a chimney survey in Cranbrook
Some owners book because a chimney breast has been removed below and they want to know about the stack above. We note what’s visible in the loft space and outside, and recommend a structural engineer where support is in question.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
If you live near a park such as Valentines Park, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys.
Questions to ask before booking
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- What follow-up you get after the report
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Cranbrook
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Cranbrook
Can a landlord with a rental near Ilford station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Cranbrook?
Parking in Cranbrook, as in most of London, takes a little planning: a visitor permit or a bay close to the door helps a lot, so mention what’s available as you book.
Will you check the loft?
If there’s a loft and safe access to it, yes. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that cannot be seen from outside.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
It can come from several places: water getting in at the top, through the brickwork or at the flashings, or moisture trapped in a stack with no ventilation. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, like cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Let us know about it when you book and we will explain what’s needed.
Are you structural engineers?
No. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
Places near Cranbrook
Other services in Cranbrook
Why act early in Cranbrook
A leaning stack should be looked at sooner rather than later. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you know where you stand. A hidden valley or parapet gutter on a London house can hold water for weeks before anyone notices. By the time a ceiling stains, the timbers underneath may have been wet for a while.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Why book with us
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Plain-English reports with photos
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
Read what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
How the survey works
It is useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit normally takes between one and two hours for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. London terraces rarely offer a view of the whole roof from one spot, so in Cranbrook we work round the house, using the street, the windows, the loft and any safe vantage point behind it. Shared stairs or a basement flat? Let us know who holds the keys.
- 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.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Preparing for the visit
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Getting a price
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before you book.