Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Edgware, Greater London
Chimney surveys in Edgware from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Staining on walls around the chimney
What happens on the day
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photographs, sent to you by email. As for time on site, most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so rear slopes are viewed from windows, the loft or, where a flight is allowed, by drone. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, tell us as you book.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Before we arrive
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Book a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from ground level or a window. To get started, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
How a chimney survey works in Edgware
Each stack is looked at from the safest viewpoints available: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the loft space where it is safe. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where applicable. Where part of a stack can’t be seen, the report says so. Every defect we find is photographed and described in plain words. Typical surveys look at signs that a stack is leaning and cracked or missing flaunching, on lead flashings, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney pots and cowls.
London has a great many flats in converted houses and purpose-built blocks, where the roof is normally a shared part of the building. Landlords, managing agents and residents’ companies need to know what condition it is in and what work is coming up, in Edgware as anywhere. Leaks from a shared roof rarely affect just one home. A report gives everyone the same picture to plan from, with photos.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Edgware (HA8, NW7, HA7)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Edgware homes and their roofs
With Headstone Manor about 3.9 miles south-west, Edgware 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 the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. Bay roofs, hip ridges and dormers from later loft conversions are the details that set these houses apart. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Landlords with a home close to Mill Hill Broadway station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. If you look after a building such as Beit Shvidler Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Edgware is about 4 miles west of Finchley, in Greater London. Whether the building in Edgware is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. We cover towns and villages across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in London.
Here we cover the HA8, NW7 and HA7 postcode area for chimney surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Station Road, Edgware Road High Street and Hillcrest Avenue and the roads around them. You’ll find Edgware on the A5100, which makes it simple to reach. Other places close to Edgware include The Hale (1 mile east), Broadfields Estate (1 mile north), Burnt Oak (1 mile south-east), Canons Park (1 mile south-west) and Little Stanmore (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cover London (11 miles south-east), City of Westminster (9 miles south-east), Marylebone (9 miles south-east), Kensington (9 miles south), St Pancras (9 miles south-east) and Shoreditch (10 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Edgware
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Northgate School, Railway Hotel and London Academy and the streets around them. The closest station to Edgware is Mill Hill Broadway station, roughly 1.1 miles south-east. A little further out are Hilfield Castle (3.6 miles north-west) and Broadwalk Centre (0.5 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Darland's Lake and Mill Hill Old Railway Nature Reserve.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- Roof area
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
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.
Getting in touch
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, tell us:
- What made you get in touch
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Tips that help
Getting the most from a chimney survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It covers the pots, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings, and any damp we found inside. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Less load on the stack means less strain in wind.
Other services in Edgware
Common roof problems in Edgware
Years of fires can affect the mortar inside a stack. Mortar can deteriorate unevenly from flue gases and moisture, which is one reason stacks start to lean.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Mortar washing out of the joints
Shop and office owners around Broadwalk Centre may find that a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions.
Questions to ask before you book
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Whether you get a written report with photos
DIY checks: what’s safe
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Edgware
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Edgware?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Edgware?
In much of London, parking needs planning: a visitor permit or a nearby bay makes the day run more smoothly, so mention what’s available when you book.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
How experienced are you?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
How soon will I get the report?
That depends on the survey you book: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. The report is emailed to you.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
Have it checked rather than leaving it. Leaning often comes from mortar breaking down unevenly. The survey records what we can see, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it’s stable.
What should I do with a chimney I do not use?
It depends on its condition and your plans. The survey shows its condition and how it’s been capped. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need consent.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We record their condition with photographs.
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. Caught early, it’s frequently a small job.