Surrey · London and the South East
Downside Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Downside, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Get in touch for a price.
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- A stack that appears to lean
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
Landlords, agents and block managers in Downside
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
How a chimney survey works in Downside
Redundant chimneys are common, especially where fires have been replaced by central heating. A disused stack still needs looking after. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. You get photos of each stack and our recommendations. Typical surveys look at redundant stacks capped without ventilation and signs that a stack is leaning, on lead flashings, shared and party-wall stacks and flaunching.
In a village or hamlet like Downside, 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.
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.
- Location
- Downside (KT11)
- Region
- Surrey
- Prices
- 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
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Downside
What else we do in Downside
What this survey can’t tell you
No survey can tell you everything, and it is better to know them up front. Bear these in mind:
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Downside
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
Chimney surveys in Downside: local notes
Many older homes in Surrey have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old buildings in Surrey. Whatever the covering, it’s often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. With Byfleet Manor about 2.7 miles north-west, Downside sits in an area with a long building history. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For landlords with property near Cobham & Stoke Dabernon station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. Take a building like St Matthew's CofE Aided Infant School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Downside is about 4 miles west of Leatherhead, in Surrey. We cover Downside and the rest of Surrey. Across Surrey, we cover Downside and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Guildford page.
Surveys in KT11 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Downside Common, Downsview Close and Deacon Close. Close by, we survey roofs in Hatchford (1 mile west), Martyr's Green (1 mile south-west), Hatchford End (2 miles west), Whiteley Village (3 miles north) and Wisley (3 miles west). Larger places within reach include Guildford (8 miles south-west), Woking (7 miles west), Camberley (14 miles west), Epsom (6 miles east), Horley (14 miles south-east) and Redhill (12 miles south-east).
Around Downside
Around Downside, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Plough Public House and Parkside School, among other places. The closest station to Downside is Cobham & Stoke Dabernon station, roughly 1 mile north-east of the centre. A little further out are Epsom Cottage Hospital (5.1 miles north-east) and Send and Ripley History Society Museum (3.8 miles west). The countryside around Downside includes Jubilee Wood and Boldermere Lake.
Can I check my roof myself?
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Do you need a chimney survey in Downside?
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Mortar can deteriorate unevenly from flue gases and moisture, which can make a stack lean.
Look out for signs like these:
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Bricks with flaking faces
- A stack that appears to lean
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
The streets around a church such as St Michael's Chapel 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.
What to check before booking
- Will the report include photos?
- What happens after the report arrives
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
Your questions about chimney surveys in Downside
How do I find out if my home in Downside is listed?
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.
Can a landlord with a rental near Cobham & Stoke Dabernon station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and letting agents book with us as well as owners. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the building, including who will give access on the day.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. A flue inspection, sweep or gas safety check is a separate job. We check the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
Does someone need to be in?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access when you book.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report, and it does not include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
How quickly is the report sent?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. The report is emailed to you.
How the survey works
Where it’s 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, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey typically takes roughly 1–2 hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. In a hamlet or village like Downside, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Before we arrive
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Booking a survey
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, let us know about the property and we will point you to the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Read more
What affects the price in Downside
Our packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- The size of the roof
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
What to let us know when you get in touch
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, let us know:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- The address and postcode of the property
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.