West Berkshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Mortimer, West Berkshire
Chimney surveys across Mortimer, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
About our chimney survey in Mortimer
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is often shared with next door. We inspect the parts we can see safely and the parts the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it, so you can talk to them. You get a written report with photographs and what we recommend. We are frequently asked to look into frost-damaged brickwork on the stack and unused flues sealed without airflow, on chimney breasts, flaunching and shared and party-wall stacks.
In a smaller place like Mortimer, homes range from older cottages to bungalows and newer houses. Coverings range from slate and clay tiles on older homes to concrete tiles on many later ones. On older homes, chimney stacks, valleys and gutters are normally where the work is, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. The fixings under an older roof often fail before good slates or tiles do.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, each with a short note and a photograph. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Place
- Mortimer (RG7)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Should I look at the roof myself first?
It is useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in.
Common roof problems in Mortimer
Many chimneys are no longer used. A stack sealed without ventilation can trap damp. Damp patches can appear on chimney breasts even when nothing is leaking.
People usually book a survey after spotting something like this:
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
If you let a flat or house near Mortimer station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
What to check before booking
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What insurance they carry
- How soon the report will arrive
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney pots and cowls
Pots sit in the flaunching on top of the stack, and cowls or caps sit on the pots. We check that they look secure and undamaged.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Damp patches on chimney breasts often point to a problem above. We check the breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach.
Tips that help
Small things make a difference. Our tips:
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Check your stacks from ground level after strong winds
If the report recommends a structural engineer, a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer, it will say why. That helps you brief them.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. Early signs are easier to trace.
What happens on the day
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes about one to two hours for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. A visit to Mortimer is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed ahead of time. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. Tell us about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- 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.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Before the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
Booking a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so call 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
Advice
How we price chimney surveys
Survey packages start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- House, block, shop or office
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can safely be seen and which survey you book.
What to let us know when you get in touch
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Towns and villages near Mortimer
More services for Mortimer
FAQs for Mortimer
Do you cover smaller places like Mortimer?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
I let a flat near Mortimer station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and agents book with us as well as owners. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us about the building.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 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.
How do I book a survey in Mortimer?
The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or email us. Give us the address and a few details about the roof. Surveys run on any day of the week.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
Our stack is shared. Can you still survey it?
Yes. Many houses share stacks with a neighbour. We record the stack as far as we can see it and flag anything on the neighbour’s side.
What happens after the survey?
The report comes by email, and what you do next is up to you: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
What a chimney survey looks like in Mortimer
Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. The wider area around Mortimer has a long history of building, with Stratfield Saye House about 3.6 miles south-east. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
If you live near a park such as Padworth Common Local Nature Reserve, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys. Take an older house close to Mortimer Methodist Church: its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Mortimer is about 4 miles north-east of Tadley, in West Berkshire. We survey roofs in Mortimer and the surrounding area across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across West Berkshire. We also survey roofs in Reading.
Here we cover the RG7 postcode area for chimney surveys. We cover properties on The Street, Croft Road and Leigh Field. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Stratfield Mortimer (1 mile east), Mortimer West End (1 mile south-west), Goddard's Green (2 miles north-east), Burghfield Common (2 miles north) and Wokefield (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Newbury (11 miles west), Thatcham (8 miles west), Speenhamland (11 miles west), Spencers Wood (4 miles east), Calcot (5 miles north) and Shaw (11 miles west).
What’s near Mortimer
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Willink School, The Willink School and Padworth Common Local Nature Reserve. Mortimer’s nearest station is Mortimer station, about 1.4 miles east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Calleva Museum (2 miles south-west) and Beaumys Castle (3.7 miles east). The countryside around Mortimer includes Hosehill Lake.