West Berkshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Sulhamstead, West Berkshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Sulhamstead and the rest of West Berkshire. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
Practical tips
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer or builder. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. That helps stop damp building up inside.
Chimney survey in Sulhamstead
If a chimney looks out of line, it is worth getting it checked. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, often after years of flue gases and damp. We record the lean and the condition of the brickwork and pointing. Where it may be a structural concern, we will recommend a structural engineer. Common reasons to book are lifted or split lead flashings and eroded joints in the brickwork, on shared and party-wall stacks, chimney breasts and brick chimney stacks.
In a small place like Sulhamstead, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Sulhamstead (RG7)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a chimney survey looks like in Sulhamstead
Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. If your home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission, so check with the council.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Peter, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. Anyone responsible for a site like Sulhamstead and Ufton Nervet School will know that large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Sulhamstead is about 5 miles north-east of Tadley, in West Berkshire. We carry out chimney surveys in Sulhamstead for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Across West Berkshire, we cover Sulhamstead. You can also see our page for Reading.
All of RG7 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Sulhamstead Bannister Upper End (1 mile east), Ufton Green (1 mile south-west), Sulhamstead Abbots (1 mile south-east), Ufton Nervet (1 mile south) and Sheffield Bottom (1 mile north-east). Larger places within reach include Newbury (10 miles west), Thatcham (7 miles west), Speenhamland (10 miles west), Spencers Wood (5 miles east), Calcot (3 miles north-east) and Shaw (10 miles west).
Local landmarks in Sulhamstead
Around Sulhamstead, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Spring Inn, The Willink School and The Willink School. The closest station to Sulhamstead is Theale station, about 1.6 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Thames Valley Police Museum (0.7 miles north-east) and Battle Hospital (5.1 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Moor Copse Nature Reserve and Hosehill Lake.
Signs you need a chimney survey in Sulhamstead
Where a chimney meets the roof, lead flashings keep water out. With age they can lift, split or come away from the joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead is also a target for theft.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Mortar washing out of the joints
If you let a flat or house near Theale station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Before booking anyone
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
What happens on the day
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the chimney stack as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photos go into the written report. It normally takes roughly 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. In a hamlet or village like Sulhamstead, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We check every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
How to prepare
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
How to book
When you are ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or email us. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Read more
Also near Sulhamstead
Also in Sulhamstead
What affects the price in Sulhamstead
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for your roof before booking.
Getting in touch
There is no need for technical words. It’s enough to tell us:
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The property’s address and postcode
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
FAQs for Sulhamstead
Will you come out to Sulhamstead?
Yes, Sulhamstead is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
I let a flat near Theale station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and letting agents book with us as well as owners. Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the building.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. We inspect what can safely be seen and what you give us access to. If a defect seems to be on your neighbour’s side, the report records it, so you can discuss it with them.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. We survey the stack and its weathering, not the flue. The flue should be checked by a sweep, or by a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes. The report includes photographs of what we found, so you can see exactly what each finding refers to.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Usually, if there’s one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
What we can’t see
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will recommend the right survey. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Sulhamstead
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
Checking the roof from ground level
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.