Surrey · London and the South East
Ranmore Common Chimney Survey
An experienced roof surveyor for chimney surveys in Ranmore Common. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and the South East.
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Flaunching that has broken away
How a chimney survey works in Ranmore Common
Each stack is looked at from the safest viewpoints available: 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. 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 damaged chimney pots and cowls and spalled or crumbling bricks, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Ranmore Common, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it is usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Ranmore Common (RH5)
- Region
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. We inspect whatever is safely visible, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. The survey typically takes an hour or two at most homes, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Rural addresses near Ranmore Common can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Find any records of previous roof work
Booking a survey
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Related advice
What this survey cannot tell you
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Conditions inside walls
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Ranmore Common
About 1.2 miles north lies Polesden Lacey, a reminder of how long the area around Ranmore Common has been built on. 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. In Surrey, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, with tile-hanging on many upper walls. Some old buildings in Surrey and Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Barnabas, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. Homes near green spaces such as Milton Heath and The Nower can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Ranmore Common is about 2 miles north-west of Dorking, in Surrey. Ranmore Common gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Ranmore Common is one of the places in Surrey where we work for chimney surveys. Guildford is in our area too.
Chimney surveys in RH5 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Westcott (1 mile south), Westhumble (2 miles north-east), Dorking (2 miles south-east), Pixham (2 miles east) and Wotton (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (9 miles west), Woking (10 miles north-west), Epsom (8 miles north-east), Horley (10 miles south-east), Redhill (8 miles east) and Ewell (9 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Ranmore Common
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Pippbrook House, The Priory CofE Voluntary Aided School and Milton Heath and The Nower, among other places. The nearest railway station is Dorking West station, about 1.1 miles east. A little further out are Betchworth Castle (3 miles east) and Mesolithic Museum (3.3 miles south-west). The countryside around Ranmore Common includes Box Hill and Combe Bottom.
What a survey costs
When we price a survey, we consider:
- The roof’s overall size
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Which survey package you book
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can safely be seen and which survey you book.
Helping us price your survey
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- The property’s address and postcode
- Anything about access we should know
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or send us an email. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Practical tips
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Check your stacks from the ground after strong winds
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
With a shared stack, the report can help when talking to next door. The photos show the problem and which side it is on from the viewpoints we used.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
What we look for on each type of roof
Flaunching
The sloping mortar around the pots is called flaunching. Cracks in it let water into the stack.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Stains on timbers or brickwork around the stack can point to a leak. What we find is photographed and described.
Places near Ranmore Common
Other services in Ranmore Common
Do you need a chimney survey in Ranmore Common?
Many chimneys are no longer used. A stack sealed without ventilation can trap damp. Damp patches can appear on chimney breasts even when nothing is leaking.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- A chimney out of line
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
Landlords with a home close to Dorking West station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Before you book anyone
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
Your questions about chimney surveys in Ranmore Common
Is my home in Ranmore Common listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
I let a flat near Dorking West station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and agents book with us as well as owners. You can ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details, including who will give access on the day.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
There are a few common causes: cracked flaunching, worn pointing, failed flashings, uncapped pots, or damp trapped in an unventilated stack. We look at each one and note the most likely cause.
How long does the survey take?
Most surveys take about 1–2 hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. The report follows by email.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where it applies.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, if the building owner or managing agent agrees access. We look at the parts we are given access to, and the report makes that clear.