Surrey · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Effingham
Chimney surveys in Effingham and the rest of Surrey. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Flaunching that has broken away
How it works
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely, from ground level, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where it applies. The survey typically takes about 1–2 hours for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a hamlet or village like Effingham, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. 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.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Where there’s safe access, we look at the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- You get a written report with photographs and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Keep pets in another room
Getting a price
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.
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Chimney survey in Effingham
A chimney survey is about the outside of the stack and the roof around it. It isn’t a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. For the flue itself, you’ll need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. If something we see points to the flue, we’ll say so. If you’re worried about worn or missing pointing and damp patches on chimney breasts, we can find out what’s behind it, on chimney pots and cowls, chimney breasts and shared and party-wall stacks alike.
Some older homes in villages like Effingham are listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Effingham (KT24)
- Region
- Surrey
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Effingham
Other services in Effingham
When to book a survey in Effingham
Flaunching is the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the top. Once it cracks, water gets in and frost makes the cracks bigger. In time, the pots can become loose.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- A chimney out of line
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
Living close to The Forest and the Highlands is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- When you’ll get the report
- Will the report include photos?
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
Prices for chimney surveys in Effingham
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included.
Getting in touch
There is no need for technical words. Just let us know:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
What a chimney survey looks like in Effingham
Many older homes in Surrey have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls. A few of Surrey’s oldest buildings have heavy Horsham stone slab roofs. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. With Polesden Lacey about 1.4 miles south-east, Effingham 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.
If you look after a building such as St Lawrence Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. If you live in an older home near Church of St Lawrence, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Effingham is about 4 miles south-west of Leatherhead, in Surrey. We cover Effingham and the rest of Surrey, as part of our work across London and South East England. Across Surrey, we cover Effingham and the places around it. There is also a page for Guildford.
We work across the KT24 postcode area for chimney surveys and the streets around it. We offer chimney surveys to properties on The Street, Crossways and Church Street. Close by, we survey roofs in East Horsley (1 mile west), West Horsley (2 miles west), Ockham (3 miles north-west), East Clandon (4 miles west) and Abinger Hammer (4 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (8 miles west), Woking (8 miles north-west), Camberley (15 miles west), Epsom (7 miles north-east), Horley (12 miles south-east) and Redhill (10 miles east).
What’s near Effingham
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Forest and the Highlands, Howard of Effingham School and The Queen Stage pub and the streets around them. Effingham’s nearest station is Bookham station, about 1.5 miles north-east. Nearby you’ll also find Abinger Castle (4.7 miles south) and Headley Court (5.5 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Combe Bottom and Box Hill.
Common questions in Effingham
Is Effingham within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Bookham station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us about the building, including who will give access on the day.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
What if it rains on the day?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. If the conditions aren’t right, we’ll talk to you about another date.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. We inspect everything that’s safely in view and what you give us access to. If a defect seems to be on your neighbour’s side, the report records it and you can raise it with them.
How do I arrange a chimney survey in Effingham?
It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Give us the address and a few details about the roof. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. A flue inspection, sweep or gas safety check is a separate job. We look at the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
Can I check my roof myself?
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
You can learn a lot from ground level. 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.
How the survey changes by roof type
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.
Chimney pots and cowls
For unused flues, we check whether caps or cowls allow ventilation. Capping without ventilation can trap moisture.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Cracked flaunching and worn pointing are often modest repairs when they’re caught early. Leave it, and frost can work the stack loose and the job gets bigger. For an older or listed building in a place like Effingham, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Why book with us
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- An independent view of the roof
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
See our cost guide or two real surveys.