Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Downley
Independent chimney surveys in Downley. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Worn or missing pointing
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
Chimney survey in Downley: what you get
We inspect chimneys from wherever they can safely be seen: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the roof space where it’s safe. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where it applies. If we can’t see part of the stack, the report makes that clear. Every defect we find is photographed and described in plain words. We are often asked to look into signs that a stack is leaning and eroded joints in the brickwork, on chimney breasts, chimney pots and cowls and shared and party-wall stacks.
In a small place like Downley, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. 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 report does not just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Place
- Downley (HP13)
- Region
- Buckinghamshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. We record any cracking and where it is.
Flaunching
Flaunching takes the worst of the weather. We look for cracks, gaps around the pots and missing pieces.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
We confirm the exact price before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The size of the roof
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can safely be seen and which survey you book.
Helping us price your survey
A few details help us suggest the right survey and price. When you get in touch, it is useful to mention:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Dates you are working to, like exchange
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
How it works
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes an hour or two at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Older roofs in small places like Downley can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We look at every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Arrange a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
Advice
What you can safely check yourself
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Downley homes and their roofs
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. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. Hughenden Manor, about 0.8 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Downley. 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.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as The Downley School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near Eden, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies.
Downley is about 2 miles north-west of High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Downley can all book chimney surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. Our area takes in places right across Buckinghamshire. Reading is in our area too.
Here we cover the HP13 postcode area for chimney surveys. Whether your property is on Willoughby's Walk, Gray's Lane and West Court or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Close by, we survey roofs in Naphill (1 mile north), Hughenden Valley (2 miles north-east), High Wycombe (2 miles south-east), Terriers (2 miles east) and Four Ashes (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Aylesbury (12 miles north), Chesham (8 miles north-east), Marlow (5 miles south), Amersham (8 miles east), Beaconsfield (6 miles south-east) and Chalfont St Peter (10 miles east).
Local landmarks in Downley
In Downley, that means homes and buildings near The Royal Grammar School, Le De Spencers Arms and The Tower and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is High Wycombe station, about 1.8 miles south-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find High Wycombe Castle (1.6 miles south-east) and Eden (1.5 miles south-east). Not far away are Prestwood Local Nature Reserve.
Practical tips
Small things make a difference. Our tips:
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Make sure fixings on the stack are sound, and moved if they’re working it loose. Less load on the stack means less strain in wind.
Questions from Downley
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Downley?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near High Wycombe station?
Yes, landlords and letting agents book with us as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the building.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
What do you check on a chimney?
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. You get a written report with photos.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain doesn’t normally stop a survey. High wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather isn’t suitable.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
How long is the visit?
It usually takes about 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. You will then get the report by email.
When to book a survey in Downley
A stack takes the weather from every direction. Frost works into cracks in the flaunching and pointing, and rain soaks into worn brickwork. People normally call us when they notice damp or a problem with the stack, or before a purchase.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
The streets around a church like St. James the Great are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Before you book anyone
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos