Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Greenwich, Greater London
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Greenwich, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
How a chimney survey works in Greenwich
Redundant chimneys are common, especially where fires have been replaced by central heating. A disused stack still needs looking after. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. We survey lead flashings, chimney pots and cowls and shared and party-wall stacks, and the problems we are asked to look at most are damp patches on chimney breasts and disused chimneys trapping moisture.
A London butterfly roof slopes down to a central valley gutter that drains to the back of the house. Hidden behind the parapet, that gutter can block or split without anyone seeing it. If your home in Greenwich has one, it needs checking from somewhere that can actually see it.
The report records the chimney stack as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Location
- Greenwich (SE10, SE3, SE8)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
You can learn a lot from the ground. 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.
Prices for chimney surveys in Greenwich
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The size of the roof
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
Every price we give includes VAT. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
Booking your survey
Before you get in touch, it helps to have:
- When you need the report by
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
We confirm the price for the job before you book, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Greenwich: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Greenwich is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
I let a flat near Maze Hill station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the building.
Do you need to go on the roof to check the chimney?
We look from the ground, from windows and from the loft where it is safe. Where applicable, our Premium Survey adds a drone inspection for a closer view. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
How long is the visit?
Most surveys take about 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. We will confirm the timing when you book.
What happens next?
You will get the report by email, with photographs and clear recommendations. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
What’s the best way to book?
Simply call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
Towns and villages near Greenwich
Other services in Greenwich
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney pots and cowls
Pots sit in the flaunching on top of the stack, and cowls or caps sit on the pots. We check that they look secure and undamaged.
Rendered stacks
Cracked render can let water in and trap it behind. We record any cracking and where it is.
What we do, step by step
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings as a photo-illustrated written report, sent to you by email. As for time on site, it usually takes between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so the back of the roof is frequently seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. Mention any building rules, key holders or managing agents as you book.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets in another room
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
How to book
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Leave it or get it looked at?
If a stack seems to lean, do not leave it. Our survey records it and says when a structural engineer should look at it, so you know where you stand. Any roof job in Greenwich means planning around parking, neighbours and access. That is a good reason to find problems early, while there’s time to plan.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why book us in Greenwich
- PI and public liability insurance
- An independent view of the roof
- Surveys seven days a week
- Over 20 years’ experience
Read how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
What a chimney survey looks like in Greenwich
Queen's House, about 0.2 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Greenwich. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. From the street you may see only a parapet, with a butterfly roof and a valley gutter behind it draining to the back. Shared chimney stacks, party-wall upstands and lead work come with this kind of house. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
Shop and office owners around Lewisham Shopping Centre may find that knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies. If you live near a park like Island Gardens, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall. If you live in an older home near St Mary's Church, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Greenwich is about 4 miles east of London, in Greater London. We carry out chimney surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Greenwich. Our Greater London coverage includes Greenwich and the places around it.
Here we cover the SE10, SE3 and SE8 postcode area for chimney surveys. Whether your property is on Cade Road, Webb Road and Creek Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. Greenwich sits on or near the A2203 and A2211. If you are just outside Greenwich, we cover Maze Hill (1 mile north-east), Vanbrugh Park Estate (1 mile east), Blackheath (1 mile south-east), Westcombe Park (1 mile east) and Isle of Dogs (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (4 miles west), City of Westminster (7 miles west), Marylebone (7 miles west), Kensington (9 miles west), St Pancras (6 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (5 miles north-west).
Around Greenwich
In Greenwich, that means homes and buildings near The Plume of Feathers pub, John Roan School and Royal School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. You will also find Island Gardens (0.6 miles north-west) and St. Paul's (1.1 miles west). There is a railway station in Greenwich itself: Maze Hill station. Nearby you will also find Greenwich Castle (within half a mile south-west) and Greenwich District Hospital (0.5 miles north-east). For a walk, there is Tower Hill and Creekside Discovery Centre.
Useful tips for Greenwich property owners
Small things make a difference. Our tips:
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer or builder. We use plain English and a photo for each defect, so it is easy to follow.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.