Greater London · London and the South East
Royal Docks Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys around Royal Docks, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
For landlords and managing agents
Landlords, agents and building managers in Royal Docks and across Greater London can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps when budgeting.
Chimney survey in Royal Docks
A chimney stands up above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Over the years, the flaunching cracks, the pointing wears and flashings lift. That lets water into the brickwork, which can show up as damp on a chimney breast or in the loft space. We record what we find with photos and recommendations. If you are worried about signs that a stack is leaning and damp patches on chimney breasts, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
A London butterfly roof slopes down to a central valley gutter that drains to the back of the house. From the street you see only a parapet wall, so blocked outlets and split linings go unnoticed until water comes through a ceiling. For a house in Royal Docks with this kind of roof, the hidden gutter is one of the first things to check.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Location
- Royal Docks (E16, E6)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Conditions inside walls
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will point you to the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Royal Docks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
How it works
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. The whole visit typically takes about one to two hours for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Surveys in Royal Docks can be booked for any day of the week. 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.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
How to prepare
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Let us know about parking before the day
How to book
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form to find out.
Read more
Roof by roof
Rendered stacks
What’s behind the render can’t be seen without removing some, so the report explains what we could and couldn’t assess.
Flaunching
Sitting at the very top, flaunching is fully exposed. The survey checks for cracking and gaps around each pot.
Checking the roof from ground level
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Nearby places to Royal Docks
More services for Royal Docks
Royal Docks questions
Is my home in Royal Docks listed or in a conservation area?
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.
Can a landlord with a rental near Custom House station book a roof survey?
Of course. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
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.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
How long does the survey take?
Expect it to take roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. The written report follows by email, on the timescale of your package.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there’s safe access. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement.
My chimney looks like it’s leaning. What should I do?
It is worth having a leaning stack checked. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and recommend a structural engineer where it may be a structural concern.
What affects the price in Royal Docks
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Height and safe access
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Helping us price your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- What’s prompted the survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Royal Docks homes and their roofs
Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. Behind many of their parapets sit butterfly roofs and valley gutters that can’t be seen from the pavement. Shared chimney stacks, party-wall upstands and lead work come with this kind of house. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. The wider area around Royal Docks has a long history of building, with Queen's House about 2.7 miles south-west. If your home is one of 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.
Take a building like Calverton Primary School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. For businesses in and around places such as Gallions Reach Shopping Park, a roof report helps plan work around trading rather than after a leak. If you own a rental within reach of Custom House station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Royal Docks is about 1 mile south-east of Canning Town, in Greater London. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Royal Docks can all book chimney surveys. Royal Docks is one of the places in Greater London we cover for chimney surveys. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: E16 and E6. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Drew Road, Leyes Road and Camel Road and the roads around them. Royal Docks sits on or near the A1020, so getting to you is simple. We also cover Custom House (1 mile west), Silvertown (1 mile south-west), North Woolwich (1 mile south-east), West Silvertown (1 mile west) and Canning Town (1 mile north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as London (6 miles west), City of Westminster (8 miles west), Marylebone (8 miles west), Kensington (11 miles west), St Pancras (7 miles west) and Shoreditch (5 miles west).
Around Royal Docks
In Royal Docks, that means homes and buildings near Royal Docks Academy, Beckton District Park and The Royal Docks Community School and the streets around them. The closest station to Royal Docks is Custom House station, roughly 0.7 miles west of the centre. A little further out are Albert Dock Seamen's Hospital (within half a mile north-west) and North Woolwich Old Station Museum (1 mile south-east). Open spaces near Royal Docks include Gilbert's Pit.