Hampshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Four Marks
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? You can book a chimney survey in Four Marks and across Hampshire.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Worn or missing pointing
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
How a chimney survey works in Four Marks
A chimney stands up above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. In time, flaunching cracks, mortar washes out and flashings come loose. That lets water into the brickwork, which can show up as damp on a chimney breast or in the loft space. We record what we find with photographs and recommendations. Common reasons to book are damp patches on chimney breasts and signs that a stack is leaning, across shared and party-wall stacks, flaunching and brick chimney stacks.
Houses in smaller places like Four Marks can face open ground, where wind and driving rain hit the roof harder. That weather tells first on ridges, verges, chimneys and flashings. A close look shows whether anything has started to loosen before it lets water in. Once one ridge tile or slate moves, wind gets under the next one too.
Where we cannot see part of the chimney stack, the report says so. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Four Marks (GU34)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
Local roofs in Four Marks
A number of Hampshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. With Bentworth Hall about 2.7 miles north, Four Marks sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead.
For landlords with property near Alton station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. If you look after a building like Four Marks Church of England Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Four Marks is about 4 miles south-west of Alton, in Hampshire. Surveys in Four Marks work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Four Marks is one of the places in Hampshire where we work for chimney surveys. You can also see our page for Southampton.
Surveys in GU34 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Read's Field, River Close and Chalk Close and the roads around them. If you are just outside Four Marks, we cover Medstead (1 mile north), Soldridge (1 mile west), South Town (2 miles north-west), New Copse (2 miles north) and Hattingley (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Basingstoke (11 miles north), Winchester (12 miles west), Fleet (15 miles north-east), Horndean (14 miles south), Alton (4 miles north-east) and Petersfield (9 miles south-east).
Around Four Marks
Four Marks’s nearest station is Alton station, about 4.6 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Barton Castle (3.5 miles north-west) and Alton Community Hospital (3.3 miles north-east). Open spaces near Four Marks include Red Hill.
Questions from Four Marks
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Alton station?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Four Marks?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. We inspect whatever is safely visible and what you give us access to. Where a problem appears to be on next door’s side, we note it, so you can discuss it with them.
What does a chimney survey cover?
The survey covers the pots and cowls, the flaunching, the pointing, the bricks and the flashings. We also check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft space where we can reach. You get a written report with photos.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it does not include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
What does a roof survey cost?
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for the job before booking, and it depends on the roof’s size, access and the package you choose. To get a price, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What affects the price in Four Marks
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- Which survey package you book
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- House, block, shop or office
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
What we need to know
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
If you are buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
The survey, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the chimney stack as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Notes and photographs go into the written report. The visit typically takes about one to two hours at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. A visit to Four Marks is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed ahead of time. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. Tell us about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Preparing for the visit
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Arrange a survey
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or email us and we will ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Advice
Roof by roof
Lead flashings
Mortar fillets are sometimes used where lead would usually be. They tend to crack, so we look at them closely.
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
What happens if roof problems are left?
If a stack seems to lean, don’t leave it. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you know where you stand. On a bungalow or cottage around Four Marks, the roof sits close to the rooms below, so water can show inside quickly once it gets past the covering. Finding the cause first saves a second job inside.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Why book with us
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- 98% customer satisfaction
- PI and public liability insurance
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Do you need a chimney survey in Four Marks?
The flaunching on top of a stack holds the pots in place and sheds water. Once it cracks, water gets in and frost makes the cracks bigger. Loose pots can follow.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- A chimney out of line
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
Take an older house close to Church of the Good Shepherd: its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA