Hampshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Shawford, Hampshire
Know where you stand with the chimney stack before you spend money on it. We carry out chimney surveys in Shawford, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Worn or missing pointing
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Older rural homes like those around Shawford can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- Every part we can see is checked: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the loft space where we can reach them.
- You get a written report with photos and our recommendations.
Before the survey
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Getting a price
We confirm the exact price before you book, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or email us.
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Chimney survey in Shawford
If you are buying a home with chimneys, it is worth knowing their condition before you exchange. On older stacks, we often find cracked flaunching, loose flashings and worn pointing. You get photos and findings you can take back to the seller or agent. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it. We survey flaunching, chimney breasts and shared and party-wall stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are damp patches on chimney breasts and a chimney out of line.
Somewhere as small as Shawford, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on what can safely be seen, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs frequently need the most attention.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Location
- Shawford (SO21)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Shawford
Also in Shawford
For landlords and managing agents
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
Useful tips for Shawford property owners
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. A few suggestions:
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney breasts and the loft
Stains on timbers or brickwork around the stack can point to a leak. We record what we see with photographs.
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.
What a chimney survey looks like in Shawford
Some Hampshire villages still have thatched roofs. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
If you own a rental within reach of Shawford station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. If you live near a park like St. Cross Park, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Shawford is about 3 miles south of Winchester, in Hampshire. Shawford is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and the South East. We cover towns and villages across Hampshire, large and small. We also survey roofs in Southampton.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: SO21. That includes homes and businesses on Shawford Road and Pearson Lane and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Compton (1 mile west), Twyford (1 mile south-east), South Down (1 mile south-west), Otterbourne (1 mile south-west) and St Cross (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Winchester (3 miles north), Eastleigh (4 miles south), Fareham (13 miles south-east), Andover (15 miles north-west), Totton (11 miles south-west) and Chandler's Ford (4 miles south-west).
What’s near Shawford
In Shawford, that means homes and buildings near The Bridge Inn and St. Cross Park and the streets around them. Shawford has its own railway station: Shawford station. Well-known places in the area include The Gurkha Museum (2.3 miles north) and Royal Hampshire County Hospital (2.7 miles north). The countryside around Shawford includes Twyford Down and Hockley Meadows.
When to book a survey in Shawford
Flashings seal the gap where a stack passes through the roof. With age they can lift, split or come away from the joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
Look out for signs like these:
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary: corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Their insurance cover
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What exactly goes into their report
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
Shawford: your questions answered
Is Shawford within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Is my home in Shawford listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
What happens after the survey?
You will get the report by email, with photographs and clear recommendations. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, like cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
There is no single answer. The survey shows its condition and how it’s been capped. If you’re thinking of removing it, check with the council first in a conservation area or on a listed building.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. Our survey covers the outside of the stack and the roof around it. For the flue, you will need a sweep or, for gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer.
What’s in the report?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos, finishing with recommendations. Points are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
Can I check my roof myself?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.