Isle of Wight · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Shide, Isle of Wight
We carry out chimney surveys in Shide and the rest of the Isle of Wight. Surveys run on any day of the week.
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Lifted or split lead flashings
FAQs for Shide
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Shide?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is Shide within the area you cover?
Yes, Shide is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
What will the report tell me?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos. Points are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, and 98% of clients are satisfied.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only if it’s safe. We inspect what can be seen safely: from the ground, from windows, from inside the roof space, from the roof where it is safe and by drone where it applies. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
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, so you can discuss it with them.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
A leaning stack should be looked at. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
About our chimney survey in Shide
Redundant chimneys are common, especially where fires have been replaced by central heating. A disused stack still needs looking after. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. 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. Common reasons to book are damp patches on chimney breasts and signs that a stack is leaning, on chimney breasts, flaunching and lead flashings.
Around Shide, gardens, hedges and nearby trees can mean leaves and moss end up on roofs and in gutters. Blocked gutters overflow and soak the walls below, and moss holds water against tiles. A report spots that kind of slow problem before it becomes damp inside. Moss on the roof and weeds in the gutter are both easy to spot from ground level.
What you get is a clear record of the chimney stack on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Shide (PO30)
- Wider area
- Isle of Wight
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
What else we do in Shide
Leave it or get it looked at?
For a buyer, the best time to learn about a chimney is before exchange. After that, any work is yours to arrange and pay for. Our report gives you facts to raise with the seller or agent. Arranging work in a smaller place like Shide is easier with notice than in an emergency. A survey gives you that notice.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Shide
- An independent look at the roof
- Prices that include VAT
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
What we do, step by step
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take an hour or two at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. A visit to a smaller place like Shide is no different on the day: we look from ground level, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it’s safe. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Getting a price
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or email us and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Local roofs in Shide
The coast is about 5 miles or less from Shide, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces. Historic houses like Carisbrooke Castle, about 1 mile west, show how far back building in the area around Shide goes. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Trees in and around Seaclose Park shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall. Anyone responsible for a site like Nine Acres Primary School will know that large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. Take an older house close to Church of St. John the Baptist: its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Shide is about 1 mile south-east of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. Roofs in Shide get the same thorough look as anywhere else in the Isle of Wight. Shide is one of the places in the Isle of Wight where we work. Portsmouth is in our area too.
Every address in PO30 is within our area for chimney surveys. Local streets include Pan Lane, Ash Road and Dairy Lane, all of which we cover. Shide sits on or near the A3020, so getting to you is simple. If you are just outside Shide, we cover Newport (1 mile north-west), Blackwater (1 mile south), Downend (2 miles east), Merstone (3 miles south-east) and Rookley (3 miles south). Further out, we also cover Ryde (6 miles east), Cowes (5 miles north), Sandown (6 miles south-east), Shanklin (7 miles south-east), Ventnor (8 miles south-east) and East Cowes (4 miles north). Remote addresses need a little more planning, so please mention your location when you call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
What’s near Shide
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Christ The King College, The Cranbourne Arms Public House and Island Innovation VI Form Campus, among other places. Well-known places in the area include St Mary's Hospital (1.3 miles north) and Carisbrooke Castle (1 mile west). The countryside around Shide includes Mill Hill and Briddlesford Nature Reserve.
Roof by roof
Rendered stacks
A rendered stack can mask problems in the bricks below. We look for cracks, hollow areas and staining.
Lead flashings
Flashings can lift in wind or pull out of their mortar joints. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Roof area
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
Getting in touch
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or email us when you are ready.
Practical tips
Getting the most from a chimney survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
If anything in the report is not clear, just ask us. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one.
Look at your chimneys from the ground now and then, particularly after strong winds. With binoculars, you can frequently see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.