West Berkshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in East Shefford, West Berkshire
Get a clear view of the chimney stack at a property in East Shefford from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- A chimney out of line
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Lifted or split lead flashings
The survey, step by step
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll take it from there. The survey itself takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Around East Shefford, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us 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.
- The stacks are looked at from ground level, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach them.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Before the survey
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Arrange a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
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Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in East Shefford
A chimney stands up above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Over the years, the flaunching cracks, the pointing wears and flashings lift. Water then gets into the stack and can show as damp on a chimney breast or a stain in the loft. We record what we find with photographs and recommendations. Typical surveys look at damaged chimney pots and cowls and damp on a chimney breast inside, on brick chimney stacks, lead flashings and shared and party-wall stacks.
In a small place like East Shefford, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. 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. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
It is not only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend.
- Where
- East Shefford (RG17, RG20)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Flaunching
Flaunching takes the worst of the weather. The survey checks for cracking and gaps around each pot.
Rendered stacks
A rendered stack can mask problems in the bricks below. We look for cracks, hollow areas and staining.
What this survey can’t tell you
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
What we look at
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
Signs you need a chimney survey in East Shefford
Chimney stacks stand above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Frost works into cracks in the flaunching and pointing, and rain soaks into worn brickwork. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Cracked or missing flaunching
Anyone responsible for a site like Shefford C.E. Primary School will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Will the report include photos?
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
Local roofs in East Shefford
Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
Landlords with a home close to Kintbury station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. If you live in an older home near St Thomas' Church, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
East Shefford is about 7 miles north-west of Newbury, in West Berkshire. East Shefford 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, large and small. We also survey roofs in Reading.
Surveys in RG17 and RG20 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Other places close to East Shefford include Great Shefford (1 mile north-west), Weston (1 mile south-east), Wickham (2 miles south), Shefford Woodlands (2 miles south-west) and East Garston (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns like Newbury (7 miles south-east), Thatcham (9 miles south-east), Speenhamland (7 miles south-east), Hungerford (5 miles south-west), Lambourn (5 miles north-west) and Shaw (7 miles south-east).
Around East Shefford
The nearest railway station is Kintbury station, roughly 4.7 miles south of the centre. The countryside around East Shefford includes Sole Common Pond.
Prices for chimney surveys in East Shefford
Survey packages start from £150, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Height and safe access
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
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.
Getting in touch
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- The address and postcode of the property
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know the cost up front. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Tips that help
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked, and moved if they’re working it loose. Less load on the stack means less strain in wind.
Your questions about chimney surveys in East Shefford
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Kintbury station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the building, including who will give access on the day.
Is my home in East Shefford listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
It depends on its condition and your plans. The survey shows its condition and how it’s been capped. If you are thinking of removing it, check with the council first in a conservation area or on a listed building.
Are you insured?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Usually it’s water getting in from outside, or condensation in a sealed stack. The survey looks at the stack, the flashings and the capping and records the likely cause.
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. Our Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where applicable. We note anything we couldn’t see.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. Photos are taken throughout the survey, and the report uses them to show each finding alongside our recommendations.