Wokingham · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Lower Earley, Wokingham
Know where you stand with the chimney stack before you decide what to do next. We carry out chimney surveys in Lower Earley, with photos and a clear written report.
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
Chimney survey in Lower Earley: what you get
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and the flashings at the roof line. We also look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access. You get a written report with photos and our recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. If you are worried about flashings pulling away from the stack and damaged chimney pots and cowls, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a smaller place like Lower Earley, some roofs stand more exposed to wind and rain than in a built-up town. That weather tells first on ridges, verges, chimneys and flashings. Checking those edges shows whether anything has begun to work loose before it lets water in. A loose ridge tile or slate gives the wind something to catch, and others soon follow.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Lower Earley (RG6, RG41)
- Region
- Wokingham
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Signs you need a chimney survey in Lower Earley
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Mortar can deteriorate unevenly from flue gases and moisture, which is one reason stacks start to lean.
People typically book a survey when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Mortar washing out of the joints
The streets around a church like Trinity Church are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Questions to ask before booking
- Will the report include photos?
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
How we price chimney surveys
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Which survey package you book
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Roof area
- Building height and the viewpoints available
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Helping us price your survey
These details help when you get in touch:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Anything about access we should know
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney breasts and the loft
Inside, chimney breasts can show damp when water gets into the stack. We check the breasts and the stack in the loft space where we can reach.
Flaunching
The sloping mortar around the pots is called flaunching. Cracks in it let water into the stack.
Why act early in Lower Earley
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. Blocked gutters on homes around Lower Earley overflow and soak walls, especially where trees overhang. It’s easy to sort the cause early and slow to dry a damp wall.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
What you get with us
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
See what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
When you need someone else
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
Lower Earley homes and their roofs
Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
Living close to Maiden Erlegh Local Nature Reserve is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall. For landlords with property near Earley station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Lower Earley is about 3 miles south-east of Reading, in Wokingham. Lower Earley gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful look at what can be seen safely, photos and a clear written report. Our area takes in places right across Wokingham, from the larger towns to small villages.
We work across the RG6 and RG41 postcode area for chimney surveys and the streets around it. That includes homes and businesses on Beech Lane, Gipsy Lane and Durand Road and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Lower Earley: Earley (1 mile north-west), Arborfield (2 miles south), Whitley (2 miles west), Shinfield (2 miles south-west) and Whitley Wood (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Reading (3 miles north-west), Wokingham (3 miles east), Crowthorne (6 miles south-east), Woosehill (3 miles east), Emmbrook (3 miles east) and Coley Park (3 miles north-west). As one of the bigger places in Wokingham, Lower Earley has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind.
Landmarks near Lower Earley
Typical jobs here are in homes near Crosfields School, University of Reading library and The Poachers pub and the streets around them. Nearby too are Maiden Erlegh Local Nature Reserve (0.5 miles north) and Maiden Erlegh School (0.7 miles north). The closest station to Lower Earley is Earley station, roughly 1 mile north. Well-known places in the area include Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.4 miles north-west) and Beaumys Castle (4.4 miles south-west). Not far away are South Lake and Sonning Hill.
Common questions in Lower Earley
Is Lower Earley within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
I let a flat near Earley station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details.
How long does the survey take?
It normally takes an hour or two for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. We will confirm the timing when booking.
Will I get photos?
Yes. The report includes photographs of what we found.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where it applies, a drone.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
What does a roof survey cost?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose, and it is agreed before booking.
Towns and villages near Lower Earley
Also in Lower Earley
The survey, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. With a bit of garden around a house, as there frequently is around Lower Earley, the roof can be viewed from several angles. Mention any side of the property we can’t get to. Inside, the loft is looked at where it can be reached safely.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before we arrive
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Arrange a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.