Surrey · London and the South East
Salfords Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Salfords, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Salfords
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: the pots and cowls, the flaunching on top, the pointing, the brickwork and the flashings where it meets the roof. We also look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. The findings come in a written report with photos and recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. We survey flaunching, chimney pots and cowls and shared and party-wall stacks, and people most frequently book us about a stack that appears to lean and mortar washing out of the joints.
In a village or hamlet like Salfords, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are frequently old. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs frequently need the most attention.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the chimney stack, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Salfords (RH1)
- Wider area
- Surrey
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
The visit normally starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the loft space if there’s safe access. In total, it takes between one and two hours at most homes, and longer for a large or complex roof. Older roofs in small places like Salfords can have low, tight loft spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Getting ready for the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Arrange a survey
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Should I look at the roof myself first?
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Salfords: your questions answered
Can a landlord with a rental near Salfords station book a roof survey?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details, including who will give access on the day.
Is Salfords within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
How can you see the top of the stack?
We look from ground level, from windows and from the loft where it’s safe. A drone inspection is part of the Premium Survey where applicable. Any area we couldn’t view is noted.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we are not structural engineers and do not carry out calculations. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. A flue inspection, sweep or gas safety check is a separate job. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
Where another specialist is needed, such as a structural engineer or sweep, we explain why. It gives them a clear starting point.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked, and moved if they’re working it loose. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.
Prices for chimney surveys in Salfords
Survey packages start from £150, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on:
- House, block, shop or office
- Height and safe access
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
Booking your survey
You don’t need to know any roofing terms. It’s enough to tell us:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- When you need the report by
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or email us. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Salfords homes and their roofs
There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 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, so the council is the place to ask. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls are typical of Surrey’s older houses. A few of Surrey’s oldest buildings have heavy Horsham stone slab roofs. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
Homes near green spaces such as Earlswood Common can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn. Take an older house close to Christ the King: corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. Shop and office owners around The Belfry may find that a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions.
Salfords is about 2 miles north of Horley, in Surrey. We provide chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Salfords. We cover towns and villages across Surrey, large and small. Our Crawley page covers surveys nearby.
All of RH1 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Salbrook Road, Napier Close and Mead Avenue and the roads around them. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in South Earlswood (1 mile north), Earlswood (2 miles north), Meadvale (2 miles north-west), South Nutfield (2 miles north-east) and Redhill (3 miles north). We also work in nearby towns like Epsom (10 miles north-west), Ewell (11 miles north), Reigate (3 miles north-west), Caterham (7 miles north-east), Dorking (7 miles west) and Ashtead (10 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Salfords
We work in homes and buildings around Oakwood School and Earlswood Common. Salfords has its own railway station: Salfords station. Nearby you’ll also find Reigate Castle (3.2 miles north-west) and Reigate Priory Museum (3 miles north-west). For a walk, there is Mercers Lake and Colley Hill.
Places near Salfords
Also in Salfords
What happens if roof problems are left?
If you are buying, find out about the stacks before you exchange. Once you’ve exchanged, the work is down to you. Our report gives you facts to raise with the seller or agent. In a place like Salfords, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Every price we give includes VAT. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Salfords
- Over 20 years’ experience
- PI and public liability insurance
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Package prices that include VAT
Take a look at our cost guide and two real surveys.