Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Lee Common Chimney Survey
Find out the condition of the chimney stack at your property in Lee Common from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Mortar washing out of the joints
How a chimney survey works in Lee Common
A chimney survey looks at the stack and everything around it: the pots and cowls, the flaunching on top, the pointing, the brickwork and the flashings where it meets the roof. Inside, we check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft where it’s safe to reach. The findings come in a written report with photos and recommendations. We survey single stacks on houses and groups of stacks on bigger buildings. We survey shared and party-wall stacks, flaunching and lead flashings, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are cracked or missing flaunching and pots or cowls that look unsafe.
In a small place like Lee Common, 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 frequently the first to give way.
You receive the findings by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Lee Common (HP16)
- Region
- Buckinghamshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we check everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. The survey usually takes roughly 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Cottages and farmhouses around Lee Common often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We check every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Preparing for the visit
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Booking a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or email us to find out.
Related advice
Also near Lee Common
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What a survey costs
Our packages start from £150, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on:
- Height and safe access
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The shape of the roof and its details
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
What to tell us when you contact us
You do not need to know any roofing terms. It’s enough to tell us:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The address and postcode of the property
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email when you’re ready.
Do you need a chimney survey in Lee Common?
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which can make a stack lean.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- A stack that appears to lean
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Worn or missing pointing
Anyone responsible for a site like Lee Common Church of England School will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
What to check before booking
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Are they insured for the work?
- Which limits apply to the survey
Lee Common: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Lee Common?
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, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Great Missenden station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the building.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
We use safe viewpoints rather than climbing onto the stack. A drone inspection is part of the Premium Survey where applicable. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To arrange a date, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
Do you work in Lee Common?
Yes, we do. We carry out chimney surveys in Lee Common.
Can I check my roof myself?
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Why get it checked now?
A leaning stack should be looked at sooner rather than later. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you know where you stand. For an older or listed building in a place like Lee Common, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book us in Lee Common
- Packages from £150, with VAT included
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- An independent look at the roof
What a chimney survey looks like in Lee Common
Historic houses like Cholesbury Manor House, about 2.3 miles north-east, show how far back building in the area around Lee Common goes. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof. Some villages in Buckinghamshire still have thatched roofs. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
For landlords with property near Great Missenden station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. For an older house near a landmark such as St Mary's, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Lee Common is about 3 miles west of Chesham, in Buckinghamshire. From houses to flats and shops in Lee Common, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Across Buckinghamshire, we cover Lee Common and the places around it. You can also see our page for Milton Keynes.
Surveys in HP16 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Streets in the area include Oxford Street, Prince's Lane and Cherry Tree Lane, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Ballinger Common (1 mile south-east), Swan Bottom (1 mile north-west), South Heath (1 mile south), Chartridge (2 miles east) and St Leonards (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Aylesbury (8 miles north-west), High Wycombe (7 miles south), Chesham (3 miles east), Marlow (11 miles south), Amersham (5 miles south-east) and Beaconsfield (8 miles south).
Local landmarks in Lee Common
In Lee Common, that means homes and buildings near Misbourne School and The Bugle pub, among other places. The nearest railway station is Great Missenden station, about 2 miles south-west of the centre. A little further out are Chiltern Hospital (2.7 miles south) and Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre (2 miles south-west). Open spaces near Lee Common include Sands Bank and Pavis Wood.
Before and after the survey
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Check your stacks from ground level after strong winds
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare.
Check your stacks from the street or garden after a storm. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.