Surrey · London and the South East
Chimney survey in St John's, Surrey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for St John's and the rest of Surrey. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- A chimney out of line
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Flaunching that has broken away
About our chimney survey in St John's
A chimney stands up above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. In time, flaunching cracks, mortar washes out and flashings come loose. That lets water into the brickwork, which can show up as damp on a chimney breast or in the loft space. A survey finds these problems and records them with photographs. We survey lead flashings, shared and party-wall stacks and brick chimney stacks, and people most often book us about mortar washing out of the joints and gaps where the stack meets the roof.
In a smaller place like St John's, some roofs stand more exposed to wind and rain than in a built-up town. Ridge tiles, verges, chimney stacks and flashings take the worst of it. A careful look shows whether anything has started to loosen. A loose ridge tile or slate gives the wind something to catch, and others soon follow.
What you get is a clear record of the chimney stack on the day we saw it. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- St John's (GU21, GU22)
- Wider area
- Surrey
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you’d like to know. After that, we look at everything we can see safely, from the ground, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where applicable. The survey typically takes between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Being in a smaller place like St John's does not change how the visit works: outside, inside and from any safe vantage point, in that order. It helps to show us anything you’ve already noticed.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Booking a survey
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Related advice
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Our packages start from £150, with VAT included. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
Every price we give includes VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for your survey before booking.
Helping us price your survey
You don’t need to know any roofing terms. It is enough to let us know:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Dates you are working to, like exchange
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Practical tips
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- 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.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. Early signs are easier to trace.
Nearby places to St John's
What else we do in St John's
St John's questions
Will you come out to St John's?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in St John's?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. Photographs are taken throughout the survey, and the report uses them to show each finding alongside our recommendations.
Are you insured?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
What does the report include?
A report with photographs, explaining the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our recommendations. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
There are a few common causes: cracked flaunching, worn pointing, failed flashings, uncapped pots, or damp trapped in an unventilated stack. We look at each one and note the most likely cause.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it’s safe. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. We use safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable, and the report records anything we couldn’t see.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
What we look for on each type of roof
Rendered stacks
We can’t see the bricks behind render without it being opened up, so the report says what can and can’t be judged.
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We record their condition with photos.
When to book a survey in St John's
Some owners book because a chimney breast has been removed below and they want to know about the stack above. We note what’s visible in the loft space and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Worn or missing pointing
- A chimney out of line
For an older house near a landmark like St John's Church, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What the survey won’t cover
What a chimney survey looks like in St John's
Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, before anyone quotes for re-roofing. Older houses across Surrey often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old buildings in Surrey. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
Trees in and around Brookwood Lye shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls. For site and facilities teams at buildings like The Winston Churchill School A Specialist Sports College, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
St John's is about 1 mile west of Woking, in Surrey. St John's is one of many places we visit across Surrey, for homes and businesses alike. St John's is one of the towns and villages in Surrey where we work for chimney surveys.
Surveys in GU21 and GU22 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Whether your property is on Pond Road, Copse Road and Raglan Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Being close to the A324, St John's is easy for us to reach for chimney surveys. If you are just outside St John's, we cover Goldsworth Park (1 mile north-east), Woking (1 mile east), Westfield (2 miles south-east), Horsell (2 miles north-east) and Mimbridge (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Guildford (5 miles south), Camberley (6 miles west), Epsom (14 miles east), Farnham (11 miles south-west), Ewell (15 miles east) and Egham (8 miles north).
Around St John's
Typical jobs here are in homes near Hoe Valley School, The Oaktree School and Royal Oak pub, among other places. St John's’s nearest station is Woking station, about 1.6 miles east. A little further out are Brookwood Hospital (1 mile west) and The Peacocks (1.6 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Brookwood Lye.