Thurrock · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Southfields, Thurrock
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Southfields, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
How a chimney survey works in Southfields
A leaning chimney stack is worth having looked at. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, often after years of flue gases and damp. The survey notes how the stack looks, how far it seems to lean and the state of the bricks and joints. If the stack looks like a structural issue, the report recommends a structural engineer. Common reasons to book are redundant stacks capped without ventilation and flashings pulling away from the stack, across chimney pots and cowls, brick chimney stacks and lead flashings.
Older buildings in small places like Southfields may be 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. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Where
- Southfields (RM16)
- Region
- Thurrock
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Southfields
Southfields lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Near the sea, metal fixings wear faster and loose pieces on a roof are more likely to lift, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area.
If you run a business near Ealing Broadway Centre, a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks. If you let a flat or house near Stanford-Le-Hope station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Southfields is about 2 miles south-west of Stanford-le-Hope, in Thurrock. Whether the building in Southfields is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Across Thurrock, we cover Southfields and the places around it. Chelmsford is in our area too.
Here we cover the RM16 postcode area for chimney surveys. Local streets include Welling Road, Bristowe Drive and Ellis Close, all of which we cover. We also cover Orsett (1 mile west), Baker Street (1 mile west), Bulphan (3 miles north), West Horndon (5 miles north-west) and East Horndon (5 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Grays (3 miles south-west), South Ockendon (4 miles west), Corringham (3 miles east), Aveley (6 miles west), Tilbury (3 miles south) and South Stifford (4 miles west).
Local landmarks in Southfields
In Southfields, that means homes and buildings near Grove House Wood, St Clere's School and Whitmore Arms Public House. The nearest railway station is Stanford-Le-Hope station, about 1.6 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Orsett Hospital (1.1 miles west) and Walton Hall Museum (1.2 miles south-east). For a walk, there’s Stanford Warren.
Useful tips for Southfields property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Check unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
With a shared stack, the report can help when talking to next door. It shows what we found and where from the viewpoints we used.
Make sure redundant flues are capped with ventilation. That helps stop damp building up inside.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Southfields
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Stanford-Le-Hope station?
Yes, landlords and agents book with us as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the building.
Will you come out to Southfields?
Yes. Southfields is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
What should I do with a chimney I do not use?
An unused stack still needs to stay weathertight and ventilated. If it is capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. We check how it’s capped and its condition, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
We inspect from wherever is safe: from the ground, windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there is access. A drone inspection is included in our Premium Survey where it applies. We note anything we couldn’t see.
What will the report tell me?
Written findings with photos, covering the condition of the chimney stack, the defects we found and what we recommend, with the most urgent first where relevant. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
How much is a survey?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT.
When to book a survey in Southfields
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Mortar can deteriorate unevenly from flue gases and moisture, which is one reason stacks start to lean.
Look out for signs like these:
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Worn or missing pointing
Trees in and around Grove House Wood shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
What to check before booking
- When you’ll get the report
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What the survey will not cover
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Honest limits
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Southfields
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
For landlords and managing agents
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
Letting agents and landlords in Southfields book surveys as well as householders. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the chimney stack, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Places near Southfields
Other services in Southfields
What we do, step by step
We will ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Somewhere as small as Southfields, access is frequently the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We check every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Before the survey
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Getting a price
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email, let us know about the property and we’ll point you to the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Advice
What we look for on each type of roof
Flaunching
The sloping mortar around the pots is called flaunching. Once it cracks, water can get straight into the brickwork.
Rendered stacks
We cannot see the bricks behind render without it being opened up, so the report says what can and can’t be judged.