West Berkshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in North Heath, West Berkshire
Need a chimney survey in North Heath? We can help, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- A chimney out of line
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
When to book a survey in North Heath
Chimney stacks stand above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Frost opens up cracks in the mortar, and rain gets into worn bricks and joints. People typically call us when they notice damp or a problem with the stack, or before a purchase.
Look out for signs like these:
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
Landlords with a home close to Newbury station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
What to check before booking
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What exactly goes into their report
- Are they insured for the work?
- How long the report takes to arrive
Chimney survey in North Heath: what you get
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. Everything is written up with photos and our recommendations. If you’ve noticed gaps in the mortar around the pots and flashings pulling away from the stack, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Older buildings in small places like North Heath may be listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Older materials like clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
Where we cannot see part of the chimney stack, the report says so. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- North Heath (RG20)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That is where a survey comes in.
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Chimney surveys around North Heath
Shaw House, about 3.8 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around North Heath. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Mary, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. Take a building like Chieveley Primary School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
North Heath is about 5 miles north of Newbury, in West Berkshire. We carry out chimney surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in North Heath and nearby. North Heath is one of the places in West Berkshire we cover for chimney surveys. Our Reading page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in RG20 is within our area for chimney surveys. We also cover Chieveley (1 mile east), Downend (1 mile north-east), Winterbourne (2 miles south), Leckhampstead (2 miles north-west) and Peasemore (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Newbury (5 miles south), Thatcham (6 miles south-east), Burghfield Common (13 miles east), Speenhamland (4 miles south), Hungerford (9 miles south-west) and Calcot (12 miles east).
Landmarks near North Heath
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Wheatsheaf pub, among other places. The closest station to North Heath is Newbury station, about 4.8 miles south. Well-known places in the area include Donnington Castle (3.2 miles south) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (4.6 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Snelsmore Common.
Landlords, agents and block managers in North Heath
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Different roofs, different checks
Brick stacks
Frost can damage bricks that have soaked up water, making the faces flake away. Any spalling is noted with photos.
Chimney breasts and the loft
If a chimney breast has been removed below, we note what we can see of the support above. Confirming the support is a job for a structural engineer.
How the survey works
We look at the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there is safe access, from inside the loft space too. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging. The whole visit usually takes about 1–2 hours at most homes, and longer for a large or complex roof. Somewhere like North Heath needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before we arrive
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
Book a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from ground level or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
North Heath questions
Will you come out to North Heath?
Yes, North Heath is covered. Our area covers London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
How do I find out if my home in North Heath is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
What does a chimney survey cover?
The whole stack, as far as it can safely be seen: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings. We also note leaning, redundant stacks and damp inside.
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. A drone inspection is included in our Premium Survey where applicable. We note anything we couldn’t see.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. If it is capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. We check how it is capped and its condition, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
How much is a survey?
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the exact price before booking, and it depends on the roof’s size, access and the package you choose. To get a price, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Places near North Heath
Other services in North Heath
What we cannot see
It is a careful look at the chimney stack, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Conditions inside walls
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls