West Berkshire · London and the South East
Highclere Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys across Highclere, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photos.
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
About our chimney survey in Highclere
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It isn’t a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. If you use a fire or a gas appliance, the flue should be checked by a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer as appropriate. We’ll tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. We survey shared and party-wall stacks, chimney pots and cowls and flaunching, and common reasons people get in touch are disused chimneys trapping moisture and worn or missing pointing.
In a small place like Highclere, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are frequently where weather gets in first.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Place
- Highclere (RG20)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- How big the roof is
- Basic, Standard or Premium
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
What we need to know
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, it helps to mention:
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
What we do, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. A typical visit takes an hour or two at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Cottages and farmhouses around Highclere often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can safely be seen.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the loft space where we can reach them.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
How to book
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us some details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Common roof problems in Highclere
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We note what’s visible in the roof space and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Worn or missing pointing
Take an older house close to Church of St Michael Archangel: the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether the price includes VAT
Common questions in Highclere
Will you come out to Highclere?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Is my home in Highclere listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
Can you give me structural calculations?
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’ll recommend one.
How long does the survey take?
Time on site depends on the roof; most visits take an hour or two on an ordinary house, and more on a big or complicated roof. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Does the report include photos?
Yes, plenty. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, so you can see what we mean.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
A leaning stack should be looked at. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and recommend a structural engineer where it may be a structural concern.
What this survey can’t tell you
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Highclere
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
Towns and villages near Highclere
Also in Highclere
Can I check my roof myself?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
How the survey changes by roof type
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.
Flaunching
Flaunching is the mortar on top of a stack that holds the pots and sheds water. Cracks in it let water into the stack.
Local roofs in Highclere
About 1.4 miles south-east lies Highclere Castle, a reminder of how long the area around Highclere has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
Landlords with a home close to Newbury station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. Take a building like Woolton Hill Junior School: its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Highclere is about 4 miles south-west of Newbury, in West Berkshire. Bookings from Highclere are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our area takes in places right across West Berkshire, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Reading.
Chimney surveys in RG20 are booked the same way as anywhere else. You will find streets like Tubb's Lane, Arkwright Close and Coombe Corner. Close by, we survey roofs in Penwood (1 mile north-east), Woolton Hill (1 mile north), Hollington (1 mile south-west), Enborne Row (2 miles north) and Wash Water (2 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Newbury (4 miles north-east), Thatcham (6 miles north-east), Burghfield Common (14 miles east), Speenhamland (5 miles north-east), Hungerford (8 miles north-west) and Lambourn (13 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Highclere
Around Highclere, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Clere School. The closest station to Highclere is Newbury station, about 4.3 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Newbury Castle (3.9 miles north) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (5.5 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Audrey's Meadow and Sidown Hill.