West Berkshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Donnington, West Berkshire
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? You can book a chimney survey in Donnington and across West Berkshire, with plain-English findings.
- A stack that appears to lean
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Donnington
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and the flashings at the roof line. We also look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access. The findings come in a written report with photos and recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. If you’re worried about flashings pulling away from the stack and a chimney out of line, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a small place like Donnington, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Location
- Donnington (RG14)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Surveys for landlords and agents in Donnington
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Common questions in Donnington
Is Donnington within the area you cover?
Yes. Donnington is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Donnington?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It depends on the weather and the survey. Strong wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
Each stack is viewed from the safest viewpoints: from the ground, windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there’s access. A drone inspection is included in our Premium Survey where applicable. We note anything we couldn’t see.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
What does a chimney survey cover?
The survey covers the pots and cowls, the flaunching, the pointing, the bricks and the flashings. We also check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft space where we can reach. Everything is written up with photographs.
How long is the visit?
Most surveys take about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. The report follows by email.
What happens on the day
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the loft space if there’s safe access. All told, expect an hour or two at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. For a village or hamlet like Donnington, the journey is planned in advance: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Preparing for the visit
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Find any records of previous roof work
Arrange a survey
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Read more
Local roofs in Donnington
The wider area around Donnington has a long history of building, with Shaw House about 0.7 miles south-east. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
For landlords with property near Newbury station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. If you live near a park such as Victoria Park, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls. If you look after a building such as Shaw-cum-Donnington C.E. Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Donnington is about 1 mile north of Newbury, in West Berkshire. Surveys in Donnington work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Across West Berkshire, we cover Donnington. Reading is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: RG14. We cover properties on The Orchids, The Redcoats and Cannon Close and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Speenhamland (1 mile south), Shaw (1 mile south-east), Bagnor (1 mile south-west), Speen (1 mile south-west) and Stockcross (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Thatcham (3 miles east), Burghfield Common (12 miles east), Hungerford (8 miles west), Calcot (12 miles east), Lambourn (11 miles north-west) and Burghfield Hill (12 miles east).
Local landmarks in Donnington
Typical jobs here are in homes near Trinity School, Victoria Park and The Castle pub. Donnington’s nearest station is Newbury station, roughly 1.5 miles south of the centre. Nearby you will also find Donnington Castle (under half a mile west) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (1.9 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Rack Marsh.
What we cannot see
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
- Conditions inside walls
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will suggest the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
What a survey costs
Our packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- Basic, Standard or Premium
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. We confirm the exact price before you book.
What we need to know
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- What kind of property and roof it is
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Nearby places to Donnington
Other services in Donnington
Before and after the survey
You do not need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
You get the report by email and can pass it to whoever does the work. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Get small mortar repairs done while they’re small. It’s far simpler than rebuilding a stack later.
Why get it checked now?
If you’re thinking of removing or reducing a stack, it helps to know its condition first. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need permission from the council and the council can advise. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Donnington, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we will tell you which fits.
Why us?
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Surveys seven days a week
Take a look at our cost guide and our case studies.