Hampshire · London and the South East
South Town Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in South Town, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
How a chimney survey works in South Town
A chimney survey is about the outside of the stack and the roof around it. It isn’t a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. If you use a fire or a gas appliance, the flue should be checked by a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer as appropriate. We will tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. Typical surveys look at mortar washing out of the joints and pots or cowls that look unsafe, on brick chimney stacks, chimney pots and cowls and flaunching.
Some older homes in villages like South Town are listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Older materials like clay tiles, slate and stone are frequently matched when work is done.
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.
- Location
- South Town (GU34)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney breasts and the loft
Stains on timbers or brickwork around the stack can point to a leak. We record what we see with photos.
Chimney pots and cowls
For unused flues, we check whether caps or cowls allow ventilation. Poor capping can lead to damp inside the stack.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
What a chimney survey looks like in South Town
The wider area around South Town has a long history of building, with Bentworth Hall about 1.4 miles north-east. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. A number of Hampshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
If you look after a building such as Medstead Church of England Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. Landlords with a home close to Alton station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
South Town is about 4 miles west of Alton, in Hampshire. Anywhere in South Town, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our Hampshire coverage includes South Town. For surveys nearby, see our Southampton page.
Chimney surveys in GU34 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You’ll find streets such as High Street, Church Lane and Green Stile, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include New Copse (1 mile north), Hattingley (1 mile west), Medstead (1 mile south-east), Soldridge (1 mile south) and Holt End (1 mile north). Further out, we also cover Basingstoke (10 miles north), Winchester (12 miles south-west), Fleet (14 miles north-east), Horndean (15 miles south), Alton (4 miles east) and Petersfield (10 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in South Town
The closest station to South Town is Alton station, roughly 4.5 miles east. Nearby you will also find Barton Castle (2.2 miles west) and Alton Community Hospital (3.4 miles east). For a walk, there’s King's Hill.
Before and after the survey
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes about one to two hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. If you have questions on the day, just ask. In a hamlet or village like South Town, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
How to prepare
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
Booking a survey
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
South Town: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like South Town?
Yes, South Town is covered. We survey roofs across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Alton station?
Yes, landlords and agents book with us as well as owners. You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
What does a roof survey cost?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, confirmed before anything is booked.
What do I do with the report?
You’ll receive the report by email, and you decide the next step: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Where it is relevant to the survey and there is safe access, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
Also in South Town
What we’re asked to look at in South Town
Where a chimney meets the roof, lead flashings keep water out. They can lift in wind, crack with age or pull out of the mortar joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- A chimney out of line
- Worn or missing pointing
- Flaunching that has broken away
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Andrew, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What exactly goes into their report
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- House, block, shop or office
- Basic, Standard or Premium
Prices start from £150, with VAT included, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
Helping us price your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- The property’s address and postcode
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Anything about access we should know
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
When you are ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.