Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Lower North Dean Chimney Survey
Know where you stand with the chimney stack before you decide what to do next. Chimney surveys in Lower North Dean.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Bricks with flaking faces
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.
Chimney pots and cowls
On redundant flues, we check how the pots are capped. Capping without ventilation can trap moisture.
Chimney survey in Lower North Dean: what you get
Damp on a chimney breast can have several causes. Water may be getting in at the top through cracked flaunching or an uncapped pot, through the brickwork, or at the flashings. Condensation inside an unventilated stack is another common cause. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause. You then know where to start. We survey chimney pots and cowls, shared and party-wall stacks and flaunching, and the problems we are asked to look at most are gaps where the stack meets the roof and cracked or missing flaunching.
In a village or hamlet like Lower North Dean, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
If any part of the chimney stack couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Location
- Lower North Dean (HP14)
- Wider area
- Buckinghamshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes an hour or two at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Around Lower North Dean, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
How to prepare
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Keep pets in another room
How to book
For a price for chimney surveys in Lower North Dean, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. The address, the type of property and what you’d like to know help us give you an accurate price.
Related advice
Honest limits
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Flue inspections or sweeping
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will point you to the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Helping us price your survey
We’ll typically ask about:
- When you need the report by
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Where the property is, with the postcode
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Common questions in Lower North Dean
Do you cover smaller places like Lower North Dean?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
I let a flat near Saunderton station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
What does the report include?
Written findings with photos, explaining the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our recommendations. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
How long will you be at the property?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof; most visits take about 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
Damp on a chimney breast normally means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. The survey looks at the stack, the flashings and the capping, and record what we find.
How can you see the top of the stack?
Each stack is viewed from the safest viewpoints: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the roof space. Our Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where applicable. We note anything we couldn’t see.
Common roof problems in Lower North Dean
Aerials and dishes are often fixed to stacks. Their weight and the wind on them can loosen bricks and pointing. Any fixings on the stack are checked and recorded.
People normally book a survey when they’ve noticed something like this:
- A chimney out of line
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
If you let a flat or house near Saunderton station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What the survey will not cover
Useful tips for Lower North Dean property owners
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
After the visit, we write up the report with photographs of each stack. It covers the pots, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings, and any damp we found inside. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
Lower North Dean homes and their roofs
The wider area around Lower North Dean has a long history of building, with Hughenden Manor about 1.8 miles south. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. A number of Buckinghamshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
Take a building like Hughenden Primary School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. For businesses in and around places such as Eden, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies.
Lower North Dean is about 3 miles north of High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire. In Lower North Dean, as across Buckinghamshire, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our Buckinghamshire coverage includes Lower North Dean. You can also see our page for Reading.
Every address in HP14 is covered for chimney surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Upper North Dean (1 mile north-west), Naphill (1 mile south-west), Hughenden Valley (1 mile south-east), Bryant's Bottom (1 mile north) and Walter's Ash (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Aylesbury (10 miles north), High Wycombe (3 miles south), Chesham (7 miles east), Marlow (7 miles south), Amersham (7 miles east) and Beaconsfield (7 miles south-east).
Around Lower North Dean
We work in homes and buildings around Pipers Corner School and The Harrow pub and the streets around them. The closest station to Lower North Dean is Saunderton station, roughly 2.5 miles west. Well-known places in the area include Eden (3.3 miles south) and Chiltern Hospital (3.3 miles east). The countryside around Lower North Dean includes Prestwood Local Nature Reserve.