Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Shalstone, Buckinghamshire
Chimney surveys in Shalstone, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- A stack that appears to lean
- Worn or missing pointing
Chimney surveys around Shalstone
A number of Buckinghamshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. With Stowe House about 2 miles east, Shalstone sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Shalstone is in Buckinghamshire. Shalstone is part of the area we cover across London and South East England. Across Buckinghamshire, we cover Shalstone and the places around it. Milton Keynes is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: MK18. Other places close to Shalstone include Water Stratford (2 miles south), Dadford (2 miles north-east), Radclive (3 miles south-east) and Chackmore (3 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Buckingham (4 miles south-east), Winslow (10 miles south-east), Steeple Claydon (7 miles south-east), Tingewick (3 miles south), Whitchurch (14 miles south-east) and Quainton (12 miles south-east).
Around Shalstone
A little further out are Beaumont Castle (2.6 miles south-west) and The Menagerie (2 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Buckingham Sand Pit.
Chimney survey in Shalstone: what you get
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. Even when it is not used, a stack has to stay weathertight. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. You get photos of each stack and our recommendations. Typical surveys look at redundant stacks capped without ventilation and damp on a chimney breast inside, across flaunching, chimney breasts and brick chimney stacks.
Some older homes in villages like Shalstone are listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Where
- Shalstone (MK18)
- Wider area
- Buckinghamshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, with the most urgent items set out first.
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Tips that help
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
If anything in the report isn’t clear, just ask us. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
What we’re asked to look at in Shalstone
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We note what’s visible in the roof space and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Worn or missing pointing
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
The streets around a church like Church of St Edward are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Before booking anyone
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Which limits apply to the survey
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Different roofs, different checks
Flaunching
Flaunching takes the worst of the weather. The survey checks for cracking and gaps around each pot.
Brick stacks
Most chimney stacks are built of brick, with mortar joints that wear over time. We check the bricks for spalling and the joints for erosion.
How the survey works
We check the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. The whole visit normally takes about one to two hours for a house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Cottages and farmhouses around Shalstone often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We check every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Booking a survey
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.
Read more
Should I look at the roof myself first?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
Common questions in Shalstone
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Shalstone?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is Shalstone in the area you cover?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and Shalstone is part of that. You can phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Do you inspect the flue?
No. It is not a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We check the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, so it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
What do you check on a chimney?
Every part of the stack we can see from safe positions: from the pots and flaunching down to the flashings. Leaning, unused stacks and damp on chimney breasts are recorded too.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Let us know which days suit you as you book.