Reading · London and the South East
Gallowstree Common Chimney Survey
Find out the condition of the chimney stack at your property in Gallowstree Common from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Bricks with flaking faces
Prices for chimney surveys in Gallowstree Common
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
Every price we give includes VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
What to let us know when you get in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Chimney survey in Gallowstree Common
A leaning chimney stack is worth having looked at. A stack may lean because the mortar on one side has weakened, which can happen over many years of use. We record the lean and the condition of the brickwork and pointing. If the stack looks like a structural issue, the report recommends a structural engineer. Common reasons to book are disused chimneys trapping moisture and loose, cracked or missing pots, on brick chimney stacks, chimney pots and cowls and lead flashings.
In a village or hamlet like Gallowstree Common, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Place
- Gallowstree Common (RG4)
- Region
- Reading
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Flaunching
We frequently find flaunching that has cracked or broken away. It’s typically a modest repair when it’s caught early.
Rendered stacks
Some stacks are rendered, which can hide the condition of the brickwork beneath. The survey checks for cracking, bulging and staining in the render.
What happens on the day
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit normally takes between one and two hours at most homes, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Around Gallowstree Common, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We check the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Getting ready for the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Getting a price
We confirm the price for your survey before you book, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. It shows what we found and where, as far as we could see.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. Early signs are easier to trace.
What we cannot see
We only report what can safely be seen on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll suggest the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
Chimney surveys in Gallowstree Common: local notes
Older houses in the South East frequently have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. The wider area around Gallowstree Common has a long history of building, with Mapledurham House about 2.6 miles south-west. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you live in an older home near Church of St John the Baptist, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. For landlords with property near Tilehurst station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Gallowstree Common is about 3 miles north-west of Caversham, in Reading. Gallowstree Common is part of the area we cover as part of our work across London and South East England. Gallowstree Common is one of the towns and villages in Reading we cover for chimney surveys.
Surveys in RG4 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Local streets include Reades Lane, Hearns Lane and Horsepond Road, and we cover them all. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Cane End (1 mile south-west), Hook End (2 miles north-west), Stoke Row (2 miles north), Checkendon (3 miles north-west) and Woodcote (3 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Caversham (3 miles south-east), Norcot (4 miles south), West Reading (4 miles south), Tilehurst Within (4 miles south), Shinfield (8 miles south) and Arborfield Garrison (10 miles south-east).
Near you in Gallowstree Common
We work in homes and buildings around The Reformation pub, Kidmore End Church of England Primary School and The Warwick School and the streets around them. The closest station to Gallowstree Common is Tilehurst station, roughly 3.3 miles south of the centre. A little further out are Battle Hospital (4.1 miles south). For a walk, there’s Hartslock.
Towns and villages near Gallowstree Common
What else we do in Gallowstree Common
Your questions about chimney surveys in Gallowstree Common
Can a landlord with a rental near Tilehurst station book a roof survey?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Is my home in Gallowstree Common listed or in a conservation area?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Let us know about it when booking and we’ll explain what’s needed.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Damp on a chimney breast usually means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. The survey looks at the stack, the flashings and the capping, and record what we find.
Do you inspect the flue?
No. A flue inspection, sweep or gas safety check is a separate job. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp, and we’ll say if anything suggests the flue needs checking.
How much is a survey?
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package.
What do I do with the report?
You will get the report by email. With Standard there is a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Why act early in Gallowstree Common
A small amount of repointing or new flaunching is typically a modest job. Leave it, and frost can work the stack loose, and the work grows. In a small place like Gallowstree Common, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Gallowstree Common
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Prices that include VAT
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- 98% customer satisfaction
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.