Surrey · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Hatchford
Get a clear view of the chimney stack at a property in Hatchford from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Flaunching that has broken away
Chimney surveys in Hatchford: local notes
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls are typical of Surrey’s older houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old buildings in Surrey. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. The wider area around Hatchford has a long history of building, with Byfleet Manor about 2.1 miles north-west. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you own a rental within reach of Effingham Junction station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. If you look after a building such as St Matthew's CofE Aided Infant School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Hatchford is about 5 miles south of Weybridge, in Surrey. Roofs in Hatchford get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Surrey. Hatchford is one of the towns and villages in Surrey where we work for chimney surveys. You can also see our page for Guildford.
All of KT11 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We also cover the places around Hatchford: Martyr's Green (1 mile south-west), Hatchford End (1 mile west), Downside (1 mile east), Wisley (2 miles north-west) and Byfleet (3 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Guildford (7 miles south-west), Woking (6 miles west), Camberley (13 miles west), Epsom (7 miles east), Horley (15 miles south-east) and Redhill (12 miles south-east).
Near you in Hatchford
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Forest and the Highlands and The Black Swan pub, among other places. Hatchford’s nearest station is Effingham Junction station, roughly 1.3 miles south-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Send and Ripley History Society Museum (2.7 miles west) and Woking Community Hospital (5.3 miles west). Open spaces near Hatchford include Papercourt Marshes and Boldermere Lake.
About our chimney survey in Hatchford
Chimney stacks take more weather than almost any other part of a house. Over the years, the flaunching cracks, the pointing wears and flashings lift. That lets water into the brickwork, which can show up as damp on a chimney breast or in the loft space. A survey finds these problems and records them with photographs. We are often asked to look into damp on a chimney breast inside and eroded joints in the brickwork, across lead flashings, chimney pots and cowls and chimney breasts.
Somewhere as small as Hatchford, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs frequently need the most attention.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Location
- Hatchford (KT11)
- Region
- Surrey
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. If you have questions on the day, just ask. In a small place like Hatchford, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
Booking a survey
If you’re buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
Read more
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Different roofs, different checks
Flaunching
Flaunching is the mortar on top of a stack that holds the pots and sheds water. Once it cracks, water can get straight into the brickwork.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Where a breast has been taken out, we check what supports the stack. A structural engineer should confirm whether it is adequate.
Places near Hatchford
What else we do in Hatchford
FAQs for Hatchford
Can a landlord with a rental near Effingham Junction station book a roof survey?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the building.
Is my home in Hatchford listed or in a conservation area?
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.
What should I do with a chimney I do not use?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. Our survey records its condition and how it’s capped, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
Our stack is shared. Can you still survey it?
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, so you can discuss it with them.
Do you cover Hatchford for chimney surveys?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, Hatchford included.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. It is not a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp, and we will say if anything suggests the flue needs checking.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can normally go ahead in light rain, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we’ll arrange another day with you.
What a survey costs
We confirm the price for the job before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
All our prices include VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
What to let us know when you contact us
A little information up front helps. It helps to include:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Useful tips for Hatchford property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
Where another specialist is needed, such as a structural engineer or sweep, we explain why. It gives them a clear starting point.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
Common roof problems in Hatchford
Years of fires can affect the mortar inside a stack. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which is one reason stacks start to lean.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
Living close to The Forest and the Highlands is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What exactly goes into their report
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Is VAT included in the price?