Hampshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Pilley Bailey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Pilley Bailey and the rest of Hampshire. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- A chimney out of line
- Staining on walls around the chimney
How the survey changes by roof type
Flaunching
Flaunching takes the worst of the weather. The survey checks for cracking and gaps around each pot.
Chimney breasts and the loft
In the loft, staining around the stack often shows where water is getting in. What we find is photographed and described.
About our chimney survey in Pilley Bailey
We inspect chimneys from wherever they can be seen safely: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there’s access. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where it applies. Where part of a stack cannot be seen, the report says so. Each defect is recorded with a photo and a plain description. Common reasons to book are lifted or split lead flashings and loose, cracked or missing pots, on lead flashings, shared and party-wall stacks and brick chimney stacks.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are frequently where weather gets in first.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- Pilley Bailey (SO41)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Also in Pilley Bailey
Your questions about chimney surveys in Pilley Bailey
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Lymington Town station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details.
How do I find out if my home in Pilley Bailey is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We look at everything that can safely be seen: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where it applies. Anything we cannot see is noted in the report.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If the survey needs it and the roof space can be reached safely, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch, and if the loft can’t be reached safely, the report says so.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In strong wind or heavy rain, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. We check how it’s capped and its condition, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
The survey, step by step
The visit usually starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. In total, it takes between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Somewhere as small as Pilley Bailey, access is frequently the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We check the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Leave a clear route to the loft
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
What you can safely check yourself
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Do you need a chimney survey in Pilley Bailey?
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.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- A chimney out of line
Landlords with a home close to Lymington Town station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Questions to ask before you book
- What happens after the report arrives
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Are they insured for the work?
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
Chimney surveys in Pilley Bailey: local notes
Pilley Bailey lies within about 2 miles of the sea, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. Historic houses such as Beaulieu Palace House, about 4 miles north-east, show how far back building in the area around Pilley Bailey goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters.
If you look after a building like William Gilpin Church of England Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Saint Nicholas Chapel, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Pilley Bailey is about 2 miles north-east of Lymington, in Hampshire. Bookings from Pilley Bailey are handled just like any other: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Across Hampshire, we cover Pilley Bailey. For surveys nearby, see our Southampton page.
Surveys in SO41 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We also cover Bull Hill (1 mile south-east), Pilley (1 mile south-west), Portmore (1 mile south), Warborne (1 mile south-west) and Boldre (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastleigh (15 miles north-east), Fareham (15 miles east), Totton (9 miles north), Chandler's Ford (15 miles north-east), Hedge End (13 miles north-east) and Romsey (14 miles north).
Around Pilley Bailey
We work in homes and buildings around Southlands School and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Lymington Town station, roughly 1.9 miles south of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery (2.1 miles south-west) and Lymington New Forest Hospital (1.5 miles south-west). Not far away are Boldre Foreshore.
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Pilley Bailey
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
Useful tips for Pilley Bailey property owners
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
With a shared stack, the report can help when talking to next door. It shows what we found and where from the viewpoints we used.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. Early signs are easier to trace.