Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Plaistow, Greater London
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Plaistow, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
What happens on the day
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the loft space if there is safe access. All told, expect about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. In Plaistow, visits are available on weekdays and at weekends. It helps if you can point us to a visitor permit or a nearby bay, and to clear a path to the loft hatch. Upstairs rooms at the back are useful too, as they often give the best view of a rear addition.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- The stacks are looked at from the ground, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
How to prepare
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Arrange a survey
For a price for chimney surveys in Plaistow, phone 07833 053749 or email us. A few details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Related advice
Chimney survey in Plaistow
Each stack is looked at from the safest viewpoints available: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the roof space where it is safe. With our Premium Survey, a drone inspection is included where it applies. Where part of a stack cannot be seen, the report says so. Every defect we find is photographed and described in plain words. If you are worried about redundant stacks capped without ventilation and flaunching that has broken away, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
London has a great many flats in converted houses and purpose-built blocks, where the roof is usually a shared part of the building. Whoever looks after the building needs a clear picture of the roof, chimneys and gutters, in Plaistow as anywhere. Leaks from a shared roof rarely affect just one home. With a written report and photographs, everyone can plan from the same facts.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible.
- Location
- Plaistow (E13, E16, E6)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Plaistow
More services for Plaistow
Why it’s worth a survey now in Plaistow
Damp in a chimney breast typically gets worse while the cause is left. It can stain walls and damage plaster. Knowing whether it is the flaunching, flashings, brickwork or ventilation means the right fix can be planned. In a London terrace or conversion, a roof defect rarely stays your problem alone: a blocked parapet gutter or slipped slate can let water into the flat below or the house next door. Dealing with it early is far less disruptive.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Why us?
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Photographs and a written report every time
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- 5,000+ surveys completed
See what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Do you need a chimney survey in Plaistow?
Flaunching is the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the top. Once it cracks, water gets in and frost makes the cracks bigger. Loose pots can follow.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Kaizen Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Will the report include photos?
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. That helps stop damp building up inside.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Plaistow
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What this survey can’t tell you
Before you book, it is worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Hidden damage within the stack
- A structural engineer’s assessment
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
Chimney surveys in Plaistow: local notes
Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. Many have butterfly roofs draining to a central valley gutter, with parapet walls and gutters hidden behind them. If your home in Plaistow is one of them, lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are part of the picture too. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. Historic houses like Queen's House, about 3.2 miles south, show how far back building in the area around Plaistow goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For landlords with property near West Ham station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. Living close to Keir Hardie Park is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Plaistow is about 5 miles east of London, in Greater London. Anywhere in Plaistow, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. We cover towns and villages across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages.
Surveys in E13, E16 and E6 are booked the same way as anywhere else. That includes homes and businesses on Eve Road, Ivy Road and May Road and the roads around them. With the A1011 close by, Plaistow is simple for us to get to. Other places close to Plaistow include Greengate (1 mile north-east), Canning Town (1 mile south), Upton Park (1 mile north-east), West Ham (1 mile north-west) and Upton (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover London (5 miles west), City of Westminster (8 miles west), Marylebone (7 miles west), Kensington (10 miles west), St Pancras (6 miles west) and Shoreditch (4 miles west).
Local landmarks in Plaistow
We work in homes and buildings around Keir Hardie Park, The Service for Deaf and Partially Hearing Children and The Earl Of Derby Public House, among other places. Plaistow’s nearest station is West Ham station, about 0.9 miles west. Well-known places in the area include Newham University Hospital (0.5 miles east) and Greenwich Castle (3.4 miles south). Open spaces near Plaistow include Old Ford Island and Hollow Pond.
Plaistow: your questions answered
Is parking a problem for a survey in Plaistow?
It can be, so it’s useful to tell us about permits, visitor bays or off-street space when booking. The visit is then planned around what’s available.
How do I find out if my home in Plaistow is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. It isn’t a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp, and we will say if anything suggests the flue needs checking.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We look at the parts we’re given access to, and the report makes that clear.
How much does a chimney survey cost in Plaistow?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, and it is agreed before booking.
Our stack is shared. Can you still survey it?
Yes. Shared stacks are common on terraced and semi-detached houses. We record the stack as far as we can see it and flag anything on the neighbour’s side.