West Berkshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Earlstone Common
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Earlstone Common, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Cracked or missing flaunching
Chimney survey in Earlstone Common
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We inspect the parts we can see safely and the parts the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it, so you can talk to them. Everything is written up with photos and our recommendations. If you’re worried about eroded joints in the brickwork and loose, cracked or missing pots, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a small place like Earlstone Common, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are frequently where weather gets in first.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Location
- Earlstone Common (RG20)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens if roof problems are left?
Most people never get a close look at their chimney stacks. Defects tend to go unseen until there’s a stain. Surveying the stack now can catch problems first. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why book with us
- A photo-illustrated written report
- An independent look at the roof
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
How the survey works
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes between one and two hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Around Earlstone Common, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You tell us how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- 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’s safe access.
- You get a report with photos and our recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Booking a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you’re ready.
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Questions from Earlstone Common
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Newbury station?
Yes, letting agents and landlords book with us as well as owners. You can call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details.
Is Earlstone Common within the area you cover?
Yes, Earlstone Common is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it is applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
What happens next?
You receive the written report by email, with photographs and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Does someone need to be in?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We will talk about access when you book.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. Photographs are taken throughout the survey, and they go into the written report.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
Don’t ignore it. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down. The survey records what we can see, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it’s stable.
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What this survey cannot tell you
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- A structural engineer’s assessment
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
Practical tips
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Check unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
Chimney surveys around Earlstone Common
Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. With Highclere Castle about 2.6 miles south-west, Earlstone Common sits in an area with a long building history. 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.
If you let a flat or house near Newbury station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. Homes near green spaces such as Sandleford Priory can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching. For site and facilities teams at buildings like The Clere School, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Earlstone Common is about 3 miles south of Newbury, in West Berkshire. Earlstone Common gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful look at everything that’s safely in view, photographs and a clear written report. We cover towns and villages across West Berkshire. You can also see our page for Reading.
We cover every part of RG20 for chimney surveys and the streets around it. If you are just outside Earlstone Common, we cover Burghclere Common (1 mile north), Burghclere (1 mile south-west), Newtown Common (1 mile north), Wash Water (2 miles north-west) and Sandleford (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Newbury (3 miles north), Thatcham (4 miles north-east), Burghfield Common (12 miles east), Speenhamland (4 miles north), Hungerford (9 miles north-west) and Spencers Wood (15 miles east).
Landmarks near Earlstone Common
We work in homes and buildings around Burghclere Primary School, Horris Hill School and Sandleford Priory and the streets around them. The closest station to Earlstone Common is Newbury station, about 3 miles north. A little further out are Old Chapel Textile Centre (2.2 miles north-east) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (3.8 miles north). The countryside around Earlstone Common includes Beacon Hill and Audrey's Meadow.
What a survey costs
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
What we need to know
We’ll typically ask about:
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
Getting a price is simple: just ring 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.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings
Some older stacks have mortar fillets instead of lead. They crack with age, and we check them too.
Brick stacks
Most chimney stacks are built of brick, with mortar joints that wear over time. The survey looks for crumbling bricks and worn or missing mortar.