Hampshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Hill Head, Hampshire
We carry out chimney surveys in Hill Head and the rest of Hampshire. We survey seven days a week.
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Bricks with flaking faces
How a chimney survey works in Hill Head
If a chimney looks out of line, it is worth getting it checked. 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. Typical surveys look at mortar washing out of the joints and a chimney out of line, across chimney pots and cowls, lead flashings and brick chimney stacks.
In a small place like Hill Head, 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. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Place
- Hill Head (PO14)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We record their condition with photographs.
Chimney breasts and the loft
If a chimney breast has been removed below, we note what we can see of the support above. Confirming the support is a job for a structural engineer.
What a chimney survey looks like in Hill Head
Hill Head lies within about 1 mile of the sea, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, while driving rain finds any gap. There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so check with the council.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Holy Rood Church, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. For landlords with property near Fareham station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Hill Head is about 3 miles south-west of Fareham, in Hampshire. We visit Hill Head as part of our work across Hampshire, for homes and businesses alike. Hill Head is one of the towns and villages in Hampshire where we work for chimney surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
All of PO14 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Elsfred Road, Osborne View Road and Cottes Way and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Hill Head: Stubbington (1 mile north-east), Little Posbrook (1 mile north-west), Titchfield (2 miles north), Catisfield (2 miles north) and Heathfield (2 miles north). Further out, we also cover Gosport (4 miles east), Havant (11 miles east), Eastleigh (11 miles north-west), Fareham (3 miles north-east), Horndean (11 miles north-east) and Totton (14 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Hill Head
Around Hill Head, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Crofton School, Stubbington House School and The Osborne View pub and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Fareham station, roughly 2.9 miles north-east. Other landmarks nearby include Carron Row Farm Museum (2.8 miles north) and Fareham Shopping Centre (3.3 miles north-east). For a walk, there is West of the River Alver.
What we are asked to look at in Hill Head
Flashings seal the gap where a stack passes through the roof. With age they can lift, split or come away from the joints. When flashings fail, water often shows up in the loft or on the chimney breast. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
Shop and office owners around Fareham Shopping Centre may find that a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks.
Before booking anyone
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- When you’ll get the report
Also near Hill Head
What else we do in Hill Head
How it works
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. For a village or hamlet like Hill Head, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect what can safely be seen, inside and out.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We look at every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Before we arrive
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Booking a survey
For a price for chimney surveys in Hill Head, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us price the survey accurately.
Advice
Questions from Hill Head
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Hill Head?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hill Head?
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.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report alongside our recommendations.
What do I do with the report?
The report arrives by email, with photographs and clear recommendations. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
Every part of the stack we can see from safe positions: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings. We also note leaning, redundant stacks and damp inside.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you will need a RICS survey as well.
What happens if roof problems are left?
A small amount of repointing or new flaunching is usually a modest job. Left for a few winters, frost and water can loosen pots and bricks, and the work grows. Older cottages and farmhouses around Hill Head can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You will know the figure before booking.
Why book us in Hill Head
- 20+ years’ experience
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- PI and public liability insurance
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
Useful tips for Hill Head property owners
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Check unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
You get the report by email and can pass it to whoever does the work. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.