Hampshire · London and the South East
Freefolk Chimney Survey
Independent chimney surveys in Freefolk. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Worn or missing pointing
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Freefolk
A damp patch on a chimney breast does not always come from the same place. It might come in at the top, through worn pointing or porous bricks, or where the flashings meet the roof. Condensation inside an unventilated stack is another common cause. We look at each possibility and record what we find. You then know where to start. We survey lead flashings, chimney pots and cowls and flaunching, and common reasons people get in touch are bricks with flaking faces and disused chimneys trapping moisture.
Some older homes in villages like Freefolk are 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 often matched when work is done.
The report doesn’t just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Where
- Freefolk (RG28)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you’d like to know. After that, we check everything we can see safely. The survey normally takes about one to two hours at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. In a hamlet or village like Freefolk, 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.
- You tell us how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- The stacks are looked at from the ground, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
Before the survey
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Booking a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.
Related advice
Towns and villages near Freefolk
More services for Freefolk
Signs you need a chimney survey in Freefolk
Aerials and dishes are frequently fixed to stacks. The extra load in wind can work bricks and joints loose. We check fixings on the stack as part of the survey.
Common reasons to book include:
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
Take a building like Testbourne Community School: long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Before you book anyone
- Whether the price includes VAT
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Are they insured for the work?
Useful tips for Freefolk property owners
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.
What you can safely check yourself
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
What a survey costs
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- The size of the roof
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Booking your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- What’s prompted the survey
- Anything about access we should know
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or send us an email and give us some details about the property and we will explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Local roofs in Freefolk
If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area. Thatch survives on some older buildings in Hampshire’s villages. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
If you own a rental within reach of Whitchurch (Hampshire) station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary the Virgin are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Freefolk is about 8 miles east of Andover, in Hampshire. We carry out chimney surveys in Freefolk for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Freefolk is one of the places in Hampshire we cover. You can also see our page for Reading.
Surveys in RG28 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Whether your property is on London Road and Priory Lane or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover the places around Freefolk: Wells-in-the-Field (1 mile west), Whitchurch (1 mile west), Cole Henley (2 miles north-west), Firgo (3 miles south-west) and Hurstbourne Priors (3 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Basingstoke (9 miles east), Winchester (12 miles south), Andover (8 miles west), Tadley (11 miles north-east), Hook (15 miles east) and Hyde (12 miles south).
Near you in Freefolk
For rail, the closest station is Whitchurch (Hampshire) station, roughly 1.4 miles west.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joint between the stack and the roof. The survey looks at whether the lead is tight, sound and well fixed.
Chimney pots and cowls
Damaged pots are a safety concern as well as a leak risk. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
Freefolk: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Freefolk?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Can a landlord with a rental near Whitchurch (Hampshire) station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just call 07833 053749 or email us with the details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain is usually fine; heavy rain and wind are different. High wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
How soon will I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. Mention any deadline when booking.
What’s the best way to book?
To book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what you want to find out. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we are not structural engineers and do not carry out calculations. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.