Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Northfields, Greater London
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? We carry out chimney surveys in Northfields and across Greater London.
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
Common questions in Northfields
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Northfields?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Brentford station?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you need.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only if it’s safe. We inspect whatever is safely visible: from ground level, from windows, from inside the roof space, from the roof where it is safe and by drone where it applies. Anything we cannot see is noted in the report.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
What will the report tell me?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, and ends with what we recommend. Points are put in order of urgency where relevant.
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 and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Chimney survey in Northfields
We inspect chimneys from wherever they can be seen safely: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the roof space where it’s safe. With our Premium Survey, a drone inspection is included where it applies. If we can’t see part of the stack, the report makes that clear. Each defect is recorded with a photo and a plain description. If you’ve noticed cracked or missing flaunching and redundant stacks capped without ventilation, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on brick chimney stacks, flaunching and shared and party-wall stacks alike.
Much of London’s housing is flats, in converted houses or purpose-built blocks, where the roof is normally a shared part of the building. Whoever looks after the building needs a clear picture of the roof, chimneys and gutters, in Northfields as anywhere. Leaks from a shared roof rarely affect just one home. A report gives everyone the same picture to plan from, with photographs.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Northfields (W5, W13, TW8)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we are asked to look at in Northfields
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We record what we can see in the loft and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Worn or missing pointing
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
Take a building like Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School: its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Are they insured for the work?
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
What this survey can’t tell you
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Northfields
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
Different roofs, different checks
Brick stacks
Most chimney stacks are built of brick, with mortar joints that wear over time. We check the bricks for spalling and the joints for erosion.
Rendered stacks
We can’t see the bricks behind render without it being opened up, so the report explains what we could and couldn’t assess.
Also near Northfields
Also in Northfields
What you can safely check yourself
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
Local roofs in Northfields
In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. Hips, bay roofs and later loft conversions are typical of those semis, if your home is one of them. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. With Boston Manor about 0.5 miles south, Northfields sits in an area with a long building history. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Controlled parking zones are common in London, so mention any permit rules for Northfields. For businesses in and around places such as Treaty Centre, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies.
Northfields is about 1 mile south of Ealing, in Greater London. Northfields is one of many places we visit across Greater London, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Our Greater London coverage includes Northfields and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
We cover every part of W5, W13 and TW8 for chimney surveys. Local streets include Burns Road, South Road and Elers Road. Being close to the A3002, Northfields is simple for us to get to for chimney surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Brentford (1 mile south-east), Gillette Corner (1 mile south-west), Brentford End (1 mile south), Osterley (2 miles south-west) and Spring Grove (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (9 miles east), City of Westminster (7 miles east), Marylebone (7 miles east), Kensington (5 miles east), St Pancras (9 miles east) and Shoreditch (10 miles east).
What’s near Northfields
Around Northfields, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Ealing Fields High School, Great Ealing School and Ealing Park Tavern. Nearby too are Library for Iranian Studies (1.8 miles east) and Lammas Park (less than half a mile north). The nearest railway station is Brentford station, roughly 0.8 miles south. Nearby you’ll also find Gunnersbury Park House - Large Mansion (1.2 miles east) and Treaty Centre (3 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Middle Lake and Long Wood.
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
Where another specialist is needed, like a structural engineer or sweep, we explain why. That helps you brief them.
Check redundant flues are capped with ventilation. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
What we do, 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 one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Many London properties are flats or terraces with no side access, so the back of the roof is frequently seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, let us know when you book.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- 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 the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Booking a survey
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or send us an email to find out.