Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Riddlesdown, Greater London
Chimney surveys in Riddlesdown, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Worn or missing pointing
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney breasts and the loft
Where a breast has been taken out, we check what supports the stack. A structural engineer should confirm whether it’s adequate.
Chimney pots and cowls
For unused flues, we check whether caps or cowls allow ventilation. Capping without ventilation can trap moisture.
About our chimney survey in Riddlesdown
A damp patch on a chimney breast does not always come from the same place. Water may be getting in at the top through cracked flaunching or an uncapped pot, through the brickwork, or at the flashings. Condensation inside an unventilated stack is another common cause. We look at each possibility and record what we find. You then know where to start. Typical surveys look at lifted or split lead flashings and frost-damaged brickwork on the stack, across lead flashings, shared and party-wall stacks and brick chimney stacks.
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. A defect on a shared roof can reach more than one flat. A report gives everyone the same picture to plan from, with photos.
If any part of the chimney stack couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Riddlesdown (CR8, CR2)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes between one and 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, tell us when booking.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Keep pets in another room
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Getting a price
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Advice
Riddlesdown: your questions answered
I let a flat near Riddlesdown station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, letting agents and landlords book with us as well as owners. You can ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Riddlesdown?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
How can you see the top of the stack?
We inspect from wherever is safe: from the ground, windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there’s access. A drone inspection is included in our Premium Survey where applicable. We note anything we couldn’t see.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed.
How soon will I get the report?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. All of them come by email, ready to forward.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
There are a few common causes: water getting in at the top, through the brickwork or at the flashings, or moisture trapped in a stack with no ventilation. We look at each one and note the most likely cause.
My chimney looks like it’s leaning. What should I do?
Do not ignore it. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down. The survey records what we can see, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it’s stable.
Chimney surveys in Riddlesdown: local notes
Alongside Victorian and Edwardian terraces, outer London has a great many interwar semis, frequently with hipped roofs of clay or concrete tiles. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. About 3 miles north-east lies Addington Palace, a reminder of how long the area around Riddlesdown has been built on. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near St George's Walk, a roof report helps plan work around trading rather than after a leak. Trees in and around Dollypers Hill shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Riddlesdown is about 1 mile east of Purley, in Greater London. Roofs in Riddlesdown get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Greater London. We cover towns and villages across Greater London. There’s also a page for London.
Every address in CR8 and CR2 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include Hyde Road, Lower Road and Famet Avenue. Being close to the A22, Riddlesdown is easy for us to reach for chimney surveys. We also cover Kenley (1 mile south), Sanderstead (1 mile north-east), South Croydon (2 miles north), Hamsey Green (2 miles south-east) and Whyteleafe (2 miles south). Further out, we also cover London (12 miles north), City of Westminster (13 miles north), Marylebone (13 miles north), Kensington (13 miles north), St Pancras (14 miles north) and Shoreditch (13 miles north).
What’s near Riddlesdown
Around Riddlesdown, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Riddlesdown Collegiate and Dollypers Hill and the streets around them. Riddlesdown has its own railway station: Riddlesdown station. Well-known places in the area include Croydon Airport Visitor Centre (2 miles north-west) and Purley War Memorial Hospital (1 mile north-west). Open spaces near Riddlesdown include Duppas Hill and Foxley Wood.
Before and after the survey
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
If anything in the report isn’t clear, just ask us. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one.
Look at your chimneys from the ground now and then, particularly after strong winds. With binoculars, you can often see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.
Common roof problems in Riddlesdown
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 recommend a structural engineer where support is in question.
Signs worth acting on include:
- A stack that appears to lean
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
Anyone responsible for a site like Harris Primary Academy Kenley will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- What exactly goes into their report
- Their insurance cover
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
Landlords, agents and block managers in Riddlesdown
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 when budgeting.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Riddlesdown and across Greater London can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Towns and villages near Riddlesdown
Also in Riddlesdown
What affects the price in Riddlesdown
All our prices include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Roof area
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Basic, Standard or Premium
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Booking your survey
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- What’s prompted the survey
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or email us.