Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Finmere, Buckinghamshire
Chimney surveys across Finmere, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photos.
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
What we cannot see
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Conditions inside walls
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
Chimney survey in Finmere
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It is not a flue inspection, a chimney sweep or a gas safety inspection. If you use a fire or a gas appliance, the flue should be checked by a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer as appropriate. We will tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. We are frequently asked to look into disused chimneys trapping moisture and loose, cracked or missing pots, on shared and party-wall stacks, flaunching and chimney breasts.
Older buildings in small places like Finmere may be listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are frequently matched when work is done.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- Finmere (MK18)
- Wider area
- Buckinghamshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Finmere: your questions answered
Will you come out to Finmere?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
How do I find out if my home in Finmere is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. We look at the parts we can see safely and the parts you can 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.
Are you insured?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We check the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so we need permission from the building owner or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
What a chimney survey looks like in Finmere
About 3.7 miles north-east lies Stowe House, a reminder of how long the area around Finmere has been built on. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. A number of Buckinghamshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Michael are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Finmere Church of England Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Finmere is about 4 miles west of Buckingham, in Buckinghamshire. If you’re in Finmere, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our Buckinghamshire coverage includes Finmere. You can also see our page for Milton Keynes.
All of MK18 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Chinalls Close, Stable Close and Fulwell Road or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover Tingewick (1 mile east), Preston Bissett (2 miles south-east), Gawcott (3 miles east), Hillesden (4 miles south-east) and Twyford (4 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Buckingham (4 miles east), Haydon Hill (15 miles south-east), Winslow (9 miles east), Steeple Claydon (5 miles south-east), Long Crendon (15 miles south) and Whitchurch (13 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Finmere
Well-known places in the area include The Menagerie (3.6 miles north-east) and Buckingham Community Hospital (3.9 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Buckingham Sand Pit.
How the survey works
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging. The whole visit usually takes between one and two hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. Around Finmere, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We check every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Book a survey
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
Why get it checked now?
Cracked flaunching and worn pointing are frequently modest repairs when they’re caught early. Leave it, and frost can work the stack loose and the job gets bigger. In a small place like Finmere, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why us?
- Surveys seven days a week
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- An independent view of the roof
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney breasts and the loft
Inside, chimney breasts can show damp when water gets into the stack. We check them and at the stack in the loft where there’s safe access.
Brick stacks
Older brick stacks frequently have soft lime mortar. We note where repairs should match the original mortar.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Finmere
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Larger roofs take longer.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Checking the roof from ground level
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date.