Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Southgate, Greater London
Chimney surveys in Southgate from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
The survey, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Surveys in Southgate can be booked for any day of the week. It helps if you can point us to a visitor permit or a nearby bay. A back bedroom window can be the best vantage point for a rear addition, so we may ask to use one.
- 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.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
How to prepare
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Check pets are kept safely away
Book a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
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About our chimney survey in Southgate
A damp patch on a chimney breast does not always come from the same place. Water may be getting in at the top through cracked flaunching or an uncapped pot, through the brickwork, or at the flashings. Moisture trapped inside a stack with no ventilation can also cause damp. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause. You then know where to start. If you’re worried about gaps in the mortar around the pots and disused chimneys trapping moisture, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Much of London’s housing is flats, in converted houses or purpose-built blocks, where the roof is normally a shared part of the building. Whoever looks after the building needs a clear picture of the roof, chimneys and gutters. A defect on a shared roof can reach more than one flat. With a written report and photos, everyone can plan from the same facts.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photographs show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Where
- Southgate (N14, N11, N21, N13)
- Region
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings
Some older stacks have mortar fillets instead of lead. They crack with age, and we check them too.
Flaunching
We often find flaunching that has cracked or broken away. Caught early, it’s frequently a small job.
Signs you need a chimney survey in Southgate
Years of fires can affect the mortar inside a stack. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which is one reason stacks start to lean.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
Homes near green spaces like Grovelands Park can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn.
What to check before booking
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Will the report include photos?
- Are they insured for the work?
Tips from our surveys
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Check unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Make sure fixings on the stack are secure
You get the report by email and can pass it to whoever does the work. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo, so it is easy to follow.
Look at your chimneys from ground level now and then, especially after strong winds. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.
Checking the roof from the ground
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. Don’t go up yourself.
It’s useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Southgate
Landlords and agents in Southgate book surveys as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the chimney stack, with photographs, useful for planning maintenance.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Southgate and across Greater London can book any of our surveys. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Common questions in Southgate
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Southgate?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near New Southgate station?
Yes, letting agents and landlords book with us as well as owners. Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the building, including who will give access on the day.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. Many houses share stacks with a neighbour. We survey what we can see safely, and note anything that seems to involve next door.
What do you check on a chimney?
The survey covers the pots and cowls, the flaunching, the pointing, the bricks and the flashings. We also check chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach. Everything is written up with photographs.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it as you book and we will plan the survey around it.
Do you inspect the flue?
No. It is not a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We look at the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it is applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Also near Southgate
What else we do in Southgate
Chimney surveys in Southgate: local notes
In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. The wider area around Southgate has a long history of building, with Bruce Castle about 3.2 miles south-east. 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.
Landlords with a home close to New Southgate station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. For an older house near a landmark such as Christ Church Southgate Parish Church, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Southgate is about 3 miles south-east of Barnet, in Greater London. We visit Southgate as part of our work across Greater London, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Our Greater London coverage includes Southgate. You can also see our page for London.
Every address in N14, N11, N21 and N13 is covered for chimney surveys. If you need a chimney survey at a property on High Street, Station Road and Blagden's Close or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Southgate sits on or near the A111 and A1004, so getting to you is simple. We also cover the places around Southgate: Osidge (1 mile north-west), Brunswick Park (1 mile west), Arnos Grove (1 mile south), New Southgate (1 mile south) and Oakwood (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include London (9 miles south), City of Westminster (8 miles south), Marylebone (8 miles south), Kensington (9 miles south), St Pancras (7 miles south) and Shoreditch (7 miles south).
Near you in Southgate
In Southgate, that means homes and buildings near The New Crown pub, Grovelands Park and Ashmole Academy and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is New Southgate station, about 1 mile south-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Grand Arcade (2.1 miles south-west) and Greentrees Hospital (1.9 miles south-east). Open spaces near Southgate include Highgate Hill and Barfield Allotments Nature Park.