Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Shepherd's Bush
Chimney surveys in Shepherd's Bush and the rest of Greater London. We survey seven days a week.
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
About our chimney survey in Shepherd's Bush
If a chimney looks out of line, it is worth getting it checked. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, frequently after years of flue gases and damp. We record the lean and the condition of the brickwork and pointing. Where it may be a structural concern, we’ll recommend a structural engineer. Typical surveys look at mortar washing out of the joints and signs that a stack is leaning, on shared and party-wall stacks, chimney breasts and flaunching.
Victorian and Edwardian terraces are found right across London, often with slate roofs, chimney stacks shared with neighbours and gutters hidden behind parapets. Good slates can last over a hundred years, yet the nails often give out first and let slates slip. In Shepherd's Bush, as across London, that’s why a roof needs a proper look rather than a glance from the street. Shared chimney stacks and the lead around them are just as important to check.
The report doesn’t just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Location
- Shepherd's Bush (W12, W11, W14)
- Region
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a chimney survey looks like in Shepherd's Bush
Close to the centre of London, a great many houses are Victorian or Edwardian terraces, many of them roofed in Welsh slate. Many have butterfly roofs draining to a central valley gutter, with parapet walls and gutters hidden behind them. Shared chimney stacks, party-wall upstands and lead work come with this kind of house. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. Leighton House, about 0.9 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Shepherd's Bush. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Anyone responsible for a site like Addison Primary School will know that large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. For an older house near a landmark such as Shepherd's Bush Tabernacle, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Shepherd's Bush is about 1 mile west of Kensington, in Greater London. Whether the building in Shepherd's Bush is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. Across Greater London, we cover Shepherd's Bush.
All of W12, W11 and W14 is covered for chimney surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Bard Road, Stowe Road and Wells Road. Shepherd's Bush is on the A402, which makes it straightforward to reach. We also cover the places around Shepherd's Bush: White City (1 mile north), Holland Park (1 mile east), Notting Hill (1 mile north-east), Kensington (1 mile east) and Notting Dale (1 mile north-east). Further out, we also cover London (5 miles east), City of Westminster (3 miles east), Marylebone (3 miles east), St Pancras (5 miles east), Shoreditch (6 miles east) and Walthamstow (10 miles north-east).
Around Shepherd's Bush
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School, Corona Theatre School and Polish Library POSK in London. Also close by are Hammersmith Park (0.5 miles north-west) and The Central Bar (within half a mile east). There is a railway station in Shepherd's Bush itself: Shepherds Bush station. Other landmarks nearby include West 12 Shepherds Bush (less than half a mile east) and Culture House (within half a mile west). The countryside around Shepherd's Bush includes WWT London Wetland Centre and The Long Water.
Common roof problems in Shepherd's Bush
The flaunching on top of a stack holds the pots in place and sheds water. Once it cracks, water gets in and frost makes the cracks bigger. Loose pots can follow.
People normally book a survey after spotting something like this:
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Signs that a stack is leaning
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near West 12 Shepherds Bush, a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions.
Questions to ask before booking
- Their report turnaround times
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Their insurance cover
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
How the survey works
The visit has one job: to see as much of the chimney stack as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit normally takes about 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. From the street, a London terrace normally shows only its front slope or parapet, so a visit in Shepherd's Bush moves between viewpoints: the pavement, upstairs windows, the loft and any safe spot at the back. If other people live in the building, let us know who can let us into the shared parts.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Book a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you’re ready.
Related advice
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
For a price for your roof in Shepherd's Bush, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details. We will confirm the figure before booking.
What we need to know
What helps most when you contact us:
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Towns and villages near Shepherd's Bush
Also in Shepherd's Bush
What you can safely check yourself
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Shepherd's Bush
Can parking be tricky for a visit in Shepherd's Bush?
Usually it’s manageable with a little notice. Tell us what parking is available nearby, and the visit is planned around it.
Can a landlord with a rental near Shepherds Bush station book a roof survey?
Yes, that’s a common request. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
What should I do with a chimney I don’t use?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. We check how it’s capped and its condition, so you can plan what to do with it.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it.
What insurance do you have?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we do not carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. We inspect what can be seen safely and what you give us access to. Where a problem appears to be on next door’s side, we note it and you can raise it with them.
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings
Where the chimney meets the roof slopes, lead flashings keep water out. The survey looks at whether the lead is tight, sound and well fixed.
Brick stacks
Many older stacks were built with lime mortar. Repairs should suit the original materials, which we mention where relevant.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Shepherd's Bush
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.