Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Mapesbury, Greater London
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Mapesbury, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
How a chimney survey works in Mapesbury
We inspect chimneys from wherever they can be seen safely: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the loft space where it’s safe. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where applicable. If we cannot see part of the stack, the report makes that clear. Each defect is recorded with a photo and a plain description. Common reasons to book are pots or cowls that look unsafe and staining on walls around the chimney, on brick chimney stacks, shared and party-wall stacks and flaunching.
Many London terraces have a butterfly roof, with two slopes meeting in a central valley gutter that drains to the rear. Hidden behind the parapet, that gutter can block or split without anyone seeing it. For a house in Mapesbury with this kind of roof, the hidden gutter is one of the first things to check.
The report records the chimney stack as we found it on the day. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Mapesbury (HA9, HA0, NW10)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Check unused flues are capped with ventilation
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. The photos show the problem and which side it’s on from the viewpoints we used.
Look at your chimneys from ground level now and then, especially after strong winds. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.
How the survey changes by roof type
Rendered stacks
Some stacks are rendered, which can hide the condition of the brickwork beneath. We look for cracks, hollow areas and staining.
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
What happens on the day
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. All told, expect about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. From the street, a London terrace normally shows only its front slope or parapet, so a visit in Mapesbury moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. Shared stairs or a basement flat? Let us know who holds the keys.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We look at every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Booking a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Questions from Mapesbury
I let a flat near Wembley Stadium station. Can you check the roof?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
How do I find out if my home in Mapesbury is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. Our survey covers the outside of the stack and the roof around it. The flue should be checked by a sweep, or by a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances.
How fast do I get the report?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. All of them come by email, ready to forward.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Will you check the loft?
If the survey needs it and the roof space can be reached safely, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch.
Will I get photos?
Yes. Photographs are part of every report.
Chimney surveys around Mapesbury
In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. Historic houses such as Pitzhanger Manor, about 3 miles south, show how far back building in the area around Mapesbury goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead.
Anyone responsible for a site like St Joseph's RC Infant School will know that large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. Homes near green spaces such as St. Raphael's Edible Garden can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn. The streets around a church like St Michael the Archangel are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Mapesbury is about 1 mile south-east of Wembley, in Greater London. From houses to flats and shops in Mapesbury, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Our area takes in places right across Greater London, large and small. London is in our area too.
Chimney surveys in HA9, HA0 and NW10 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a chimney survey at a property on London Road, Harrow Road and Cecil Avenue or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to Mapesbury include Tokyngton (1 mile south-east), Stonebridge Park (1 mile south-east), Wembley Park (1 mile north), Wembley (1 mile north-west) and Brent Park (1 mile east). Further out, we also cover London (9 miles south-east), City of Westminster (6 miles south-east), Marylebone (6 miles east), Kensington (5 miles south-east), St Pancras (7 miles east) and Shoreditch (9 miles east).
Landmarks near Mapesbury
In Mapesbury, that means homes and buildings near The Swaminarayan School, Hilton London Wembley pub and St. Raphael's Edible Garden, among other places. There’s a railway station in Mapesbury itself: Wembley Stadium station. Nearby you’ll also find Brent Museum and Archives (2.2 miles east) and Neasden Hospital (0.9 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Fox Wood and Middle Lake.
What affects the price in Mapesbury
Our packages start from £150, inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The size of the roof
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Every price we give includes VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
Getting in touch
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- What kind of property and roof it is
We confirm the exact price before you book, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Places near Mapesbury
Also in Mapesbury
DIY checks: what’s safe
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That part is for a survey.
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Hidden damage within the stack
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching