Surrey · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Hookwood, Surrey
Find out what’s going on with the chimney stack before you decide what to do next. We carry out chimney surveys in Hookwood.
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
What we look for on each type of roof
Brick stacks
Older brick stacks often have soft lime mortar. We note where repairs should match the original mortar.
Flaunching
The sloping mortar around the pots is called flaunching. Once it cracks, water can get straight into the brickwork.
How a chimney survey works in Hookwood
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. The survey notes how the stack looks, how far it seems to lean and the state of the bricks and joints. Where it may be a structural concern, we’ll recommend a structural engineer. We are often asked to look into flashings pulling away from the stack and flaunching that has broken away, on lead flashings, brick chimney stacks and chimney breasts.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Hookwood (RH6)
- Wider area
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Local roofs in Hookwood
England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. 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 the council is the place to ask. In Surrey, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, with tile-hanging on many upper walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old buildings in Surrey. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Bartholomew, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. If you let a flat or house near Horley station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Hookwood is about 1 mile south-west of Horley, in Surrey. We provide chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Hookwood and the surrounding area. Our Surrey coverage includes Hookwood.
We work across the RH6 postcode area for chimney surveys. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Campbell Close, Mistley Gardens and Kennel Lane. We also cover Horley (1 mile north-east), Fernhill (2 miles east), Tinsley Green (2 miles south-east), Langley Green (3 miles south) and Shipley Bridge (3 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Epsom (12 miles north), Redhill (5 miles north), Ewell (13 miles north), Reigate (5 miles north), Caterham (9 miles north-east) and Dorking (7 miles north-west).
Near you in Hookwood
In Hookwood, that means homes and buildings near Black Horse pub and Oakwood School. For rail, the closest station is Horley station, roughly 1.2 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Crawley Museum (3.5 miles south) and Langley Green Hospital (2.6 miles south).
Common questions in Hookwood
Is my home in Hookwood listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
I let a flat near Horley station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it does not include calculations. We’ll recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
What does a chimney survey cover?
The survey covers the pots and cowls, the flaunching, the pointing, the bricks and the flashings. Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access. You get a written report with photos.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
A leaning stack should be looked at. Our survey notes how it looks and the condition of the bricks and joints, and recommend a structural engineer where it may be a structural concern.
How long does the survey take?
Time on site depends on the roof, but most surveys take between one and two hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Tips that help
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
Where another specialist is needed, like a structural engineer or sweep, we explain why. It gives them a clear starting point.
Make sure redundant flues are capped with ventilation. That helps stop damp building up inside.
Why act early in Hookwood
For a buyer, the best time to learn about a chimney is before exchange. After that, any work is yours to arrange and pay for. Our report gives you facts to raise with the seller or agent. For older village homes like those around Hookwood, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
To find out what your survey will cost, ring 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the roof. We will confirm the figure before booking.
Why book with us
- An independent look at the roof
- Visits on any day of the week
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Packages from £150, with VAT included
Read our cost guide and two real surveys.
Do you need a chimney survey in Hookwood?
Many chimneys are no longer used. A stack sealed without ventilation can trap damp. Damp patches can appear on chimney breasts even when nothing is leaking.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- A stack that appears to lean
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Mortar washing out of the joints
Shop and office owners around County Mall may find that a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks.
Questions to ask before booking
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- How soon the report will arrive
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
How it works
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the loft space too. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. The whole visit normally takes an hour or two at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Rural addresses near Hookwood can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Before the survey
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Arrange a survey
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Advice
What affects the price in Hookwood
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- Height and safe access
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Booking your survey
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, tell us:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Where the property is, with the postcode
We confirm the price for your roof before you book, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.