Surrey · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Jacobs Well, Surrey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Jacobs Well, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
Chimney survey in Jacobs Well: what you get
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it. Typical surveys look at gaps where the stack meets the roof and redundant stacks capped without ventilation, across chimney breasts, flaunching and brick chimney stacks.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. 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.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Place
- Jacobs Well (GU4)
- Region
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- Check your stacks from ground level after strong winds
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
Where another specialist is needed, such as a structural engineer or sweep, we explain why. That helps you brief them.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
Also near Jacobs Well
What else we do in Jacobs Well
How the survey changes by roof type
Rendered stacks
Some stacks are rendered, which can hide the condition of the brickwork beneath. The survey checks for cracking, bulging and staining in the render.
Lead flashings
Where the chimney meets the roof slopes, lead flashings keep water out. We check for lifting, splits and gaps in the joints.
How the survey works
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is 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 usually takes about one to two hours for a house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Older rural homes like those around Jacobs Well can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- 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.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Before we arrive
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Arrange a survey
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
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Questions from Jacobs Well
Do you cover smaller places like Jacobs Well?
Yes. Jacobs Well is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Jacobs Well?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
What do I do with the report?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Are you insured?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
Have it checked rather than leaving it. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down. The survey records what we can see, and a structural engineer can assess whether it needs work.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain does not typically stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Strong wind or a downpour can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so if conditions are not right we’ll arrange another day with you.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Jacobs Well
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. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. Historic houses such as Guildford Castle, about 2.3 miles south, show how far back building in the area around Jacobs Well goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead.
If you live near a park like Stringer's Common, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys. If you let a flat or house near Worplesdon station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Jacobs Well is about 1 mile north of Guildford, in Surrey. In Jacobs Well, as across Surrey, every roof gets the same careful survey. We cover towns and villages across Surrey.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: GU4. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Douglas Close, Barnett Row and Queenhythe Crescent or anywhere close by, we can survey it. If you’re just outside Jacobs Well, we cover Bellfields (1 mile south-west), Sutton Green (1 mile north-east), Burpham (1 mile south-east), Stoughton (1 mile south-west) and Pyle Hill (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover Woking (3 miles north), Camberley (8 miles north-west), Epsom (14 miles east), Farnham (11 miles west), Ewell (15 miles north-east) and Egham (11 miles north).
Local landmarks in Jacobs Well
In Jacobs Well, that means homes and buildings near Stringer's Common, Pond Meadow School and Christ's College, among other places. Jacobs Well’s nearest station is Worplesdon station, about 1.5 miles north. Nearby you’ll also find The Peacocks (3.6 miles north) and Guildford Castle (2.3 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Silent Pool and Littlefield Common.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- The size of the roof
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Getting in touch
When you call or email, these details help:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- The property’s address and postcode
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- What made you get in touch
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
Common roof problems in Jacobs Well
Flaunching is the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the top. Once it cracks, water gets in and frost makes the cracks bigger. Loose pots can follow.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Worn or missing pointing
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Lifted or split lead flashings
If you look after a building like Weyfield Academy, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Is VAT included in the price?
- What experience they bring
- When you’ll get the report
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
Why get it checked now?
Before deciding what to do with a redundant stack, a survey shows how it’s doing. Changes to stacks in conservation areas or on listed buildings may need consent, so check with them first. Older and listed buildings around Jacobs Well may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, access and the package you choose.
Why book with us
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Every finding written up with photos
Read our cost guide or two real surveys.