West Berkshire · London and the South East
Inkpen Chimney Survey
An experienced roof surveyor for chimney surveys in Inkpen. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Flaunching that has broken away
- A stack that appears to lean
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Inkpen
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. On older stacks, we often find cracked flaunching, loose flashings and worn pointing. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it. We survey chimney breasts, chimney pots and cowls and lead flashings, and common reasons people get in touch are damaged chimney pots and cowls and gaps in the mortar around the pots.
Older buildings in small places like Inkpen may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are frequently matched when work is done.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Inkpen (RG17)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely, from ground level, from windows, in the loft space and by drone where applicable. The survey typically takes about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. For a village or hamlet like Inkpen, the journey is planned in advance: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- 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.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Where there is safe access, we check the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
How to prepare
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Book a survey
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email, tell us about the property and we’ll point you to the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Leave it or get it looked at?
If you’re thinking of removing or reducing a stack, it’s useful to know its condition first. Changes to stacks in conservation areas or on listed buildings may need consent and the council can advise. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Inkpen, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Why book with us
- PI and public liability insurance
- Package prices that include VAT
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Surveys seven days a week
Take a look at our cost guide and two real surveys.
Inkpen questions
Do you cover smaller places like Inkpen?
Yes. Inkpen is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Is my home in Inkpen 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.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
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. Where a problem appears to be on next door’s side, we note it, so you can discuss it with them.
What does a roof survey cost?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
We use safe viewpoints rather than climbing onto the stack. Where it applies, our Premium Survey adds a drone inspection for a closer view. Any area we couldn’t view is noted.
Also in Inkpen
What a chimney survey does not cover
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will recommend the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
What we look for on each type of roof
Rendered stacks
Cracked render can let water in and trap it behind. We record any cracking and where it is.
Brick stacks
Most chimney stacks are built of brick, with mortar joints that wear over time. We check the bricks for spalling and the joints for erosion.
Inkpen homes and their roofs
In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. The wider area around Inkpen has a long history of building, with Stargroves about 3.2 miles south-east. 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 the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you let a flat or house near Kintbury station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. If you look after a building such as Inkpen Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle. The streets around a church such as Church of St Michael are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Inkpen is about 6 miles west of Newbury, in West Berkshire. Inkpen gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a close look at whatever is safely visible, photographs and a clear written report. Across West Berkshire, we cover Inkpen and the places around it. You can also see our page for Reading.
We work across the RG17 postcode area for chimney surveys. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Folly Road, Post Office Road and Robins Hill or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Inkpen: Inkpen Common (1 mile south-east), Upper Green (1 mile south), Hell Corner (1 mile east), Lower Green (1 mile west) and Kintbury (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Newbury (6 miles east), Thatcham (9 miles east), Speenhamland (6 miles east), Hungerford (3 miles north-west), Lambourn (9 miles north) and Shaw (7 miles east).
Local landmarks in Inkpen
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Crown and Garter pub. The closest station to Inkpen is Kintbury station, about 1.9 miles north-east. A little further out are Hamstead Marshall 3 (3.3 miles north-east). Open spaces near Inkpen include Kintbury Newt Ponds and Inkpen Hill.
Before and after the survey
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
You get the report by email and can pass it to whoever does the work. We use plain English and a photo for each defect so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Make sure redundant flues are capped with ventilation. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
What a survey costs
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Height and safe access
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the exact price before you book.
What we need to know
You do not need to know any roofing terms. Just tell us:
- The property’s address and postcode
- What kind of property and roof it is
- When you need the report by
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.