Surrey · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Parkgate, Surrey
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? You can book a chimney survey in Parkgate and across Surrey, with plain-English findings.
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Parkgate
Older houses across Surrey often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging. A few of Surrey’s oldest buildings have heavy Horsham stone slab roofs. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, before anyone quotes for re-roofing.
If you let a flat or house near Holmwood station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Parkgate is about 4 miles south-east of Dorking, in Surrey. Parkgate is one of many places we visit across Surrey. Our area takes in places right across Surrey. There’s also a page for Crawley.
Here we cover the RH5 postcode area for chimney surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Broad Lane, Mill Lane and Becket Wood and the roads around them. Close by, we survey roofs in Shellwood Cross (1 mile north), Newdigate (1 mile south-west), Cudworth (2 miles south), Nalderswood (2 miles north-east) and Norwood Hill (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Guildford (14 miles west), Epsom (11 miles north), Horley (5 miles east), Redhill (6 miles north-east), Ewell (12 miles north) and Reigate (5 miles north-east).
What’s near Parkgate
We work in homes and buildings around Newdigate Brickworks and the streets around them. Parkgate’s nearest station is Holmwood station, roughly 2.1 miles west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Langley Green Hospital (5.1 miles south-east) and Betchworth Castle (3.8 miles north). Not far away are Reigate Heath and Leith Hill.
How a chimney survey works in Parkgate
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It is not a flue inspection, a chimney sweep or a gas safety inspection. For the flue itself, you will need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. If something we see points to the flue, we’ll say so. We are often asked to look into lifted or split lead flashings and worn or missing pointing, on lead flashings, flaunching and shared and party-wall stacks.
Some older homes in villages like Parkgate are 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. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is frequently expected.
If any part of the chimney stack couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Location
- Parkgate (RH5)
- Wider area
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. Any spalling is noted with photos.
For landlords and managing agents
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters.
Common questions in Parkgate
Do you cover smaller places like Parkgate?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
How do I find out if my home in Parkgate is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, so it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Do you look in the loft space?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there is safe access. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement, as far as the space allows.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Do you test for 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.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
The survey, step by step
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. Most visits take an hour or two for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Cottages and farmhouses around Parkgate frequently have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Arrange a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
Signs you need a chimney survey in Parkgate
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Mortar can deteriorate unevenly from flue gases and moisture, which can make a stack lean.
Look out for signs like these:
- Flaunching that has broken away
- A chimney out of line
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
Homes near green spaces such as Newdigate Brickworks can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Before you book anyone
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Is VAT included in the price?
- How soon the report will arrive
- Will the report include photos?
Honest limits
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Hidden damage within the stack
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
Practical tips
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer or builder. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Look at your chimneys from ground level now and then, particularly after strong winds. With binoculars, you can frequently see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.