Greater London · London and the South East
Rotherhithe Chimney Survey
Find out what’s going on with the chimney stack before you spend money on it. Chimney surveys in Rotherhithe, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Worn or missing pointing
Landlords, agents and block managers in Rotherhithe
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as homeowners. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the chimney stack, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
How a chimney survey works in Rotherhithe
Redundant chimneys are common, particularly where fires have been replaced by central heating. A disused stack still needs looking after. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. You get photos of each stack and our recommendations. Typical surveys look at lifted or split lead flashings and redundant stacks capped without ventilation, on chimney pots and cowls, brick chimney stacks and shared and party-wall stacks.
A London butterfly roof slopes down to a central valley gutter that drains to the back of the house. Hidden behind the parapet, that gutter can block or split without anyone seeing it. For a house in Rotherhithe with this kind of roof, the hidden gutter is one of the first things to check.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Rotherhithe (SE16, SE8, E1W)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the roof space if there is safe access. All told, expect about 1–2 hours for most houses; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In Rotherhithe, as in much of London, plenty of properties are flats or terraces without 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. Mention any building rules, key holders or managing agents when booking.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- 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
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
How to book
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from ground level or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Rotherhithe homes and their roofs
About 2.1 miles south-east lies Queen's House, a reminder of how long the area around Rotherhithe has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Many homes in inner London are Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often with Welsh slate roofs. A butterfly roof with a central valley gutter, tucked behind a parapet wall, is common on these houses. In a house like that, shared stacks, party-wall upstands and lead flashings all need looking at as far as they can be seen. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Shop and office owners around Surrey Quays Shopping Centre may find that knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies. If you look after a building such as Alfred Salter Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle. Homes near green spaces such as Russia Dock Woodland can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Rotherhithe is about 2 miles south-east of Whitechapel, in Greater London. Rotherhithe is one of many places we visit across Greater London, for homes and businesses alike. Rotherhithe is one of the places in Greater London where we work for chimney surveys.
Surveys in SE16, SE8 and E1W are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include Bush Road, Gomm Road and Swan Road. Main roads around Rotherhithe include the A200, which makes travel easy. We also cover the places around Rotherhithe: Surrey Quays (1 mile south), Surrey Canal (1 mile south), South Bermondsey (1 mile south-west), Millwall (1 mile south-east) and North Greenwich (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include City of Westminster (5 miles west), Marylebone (5 miles west), Kensington (7 miles west), St Pancras (4 miles north-west), Walthamstow (6 miles north) and Hoxton (3 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Rotherhithe
In Rotherhithe, that means homes and buildings near The Ship York pub, Bacon's College and Russia Dock Woodland, among other places. There is a railway station in Rotherhithe itself: Canada Water station. Well-known places in the area include St Olave's Hospital (0.5 miles west) and Tower of London (1.6 miles north-west). For a walk, there is St. James's Park Lake and Tower Hill.
Common questions in Rotherhithe
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Canada Water station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
How do I find out if my home in Rotherhithe is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys run seven days a week. To find a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Does the weather affect the survey?
A survey can normally go ahead in light rain, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Strong wind or a downpour can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
How much is a survey?
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
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. If part of a stack cannot be seen, the report says so.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
What to tell us when you get in touch
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or email us and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Nearby places to Rotherhithe
What else we do in Rotherhithe
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
Should I look at the roof myself first?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Different roofs, different checks
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. We record any cracking and where it is.
Chimney pots and cowls
Pots sit in the flaunching on top of the stack, and cowls or caps sit on the pots. The survey looks for cracked, loose or missing pots and cowls.