Portsmouth · London and the South East
Tipner Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys in Tipner, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
Roof by roof
Rendered stacks
Some stacks are rendered, which can hide the condition of the brickwork beneath. We look for cracks, hollow areas and staining.
Lead flashings
Some older stacks have mortar fillets instead of lead. They crack with age, and we check them too.
Chimney survey in Tipner: what you get
We inspect chimneys from wherever they can be seen safely: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there is access. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where applicable. If we can’t see part of the stack, the report makes that clear. Every defect we find is photographed and described in plain words. Common reasons to book are eroded joints in the brickwork and flashings pulling away from the stack, on brick chimney stacks, lead flashings and flaunching.
Around Tipner, older cottages sit alongside bungalows and newer houses. Older roofs can have slate, clay tiles or other traditional coverings, while many later ones have concrete tiles. Chimneys, valleys and gutters on older homes often need the most attention. The fixings under an older roof often fail before good slates or tiles do.
After the visit, you get a report with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the chimney stack, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Tipner (PO2)
- Wider area
- Portsmouth
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in Tipner
The flaunching on top of a stack holds the pots in place and sheds water. Cracked flaunching lets water in, and each winter makes it worse. In time, the pots can become loose.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Cracked or missing flaunching
If you let a flat or house near Portsmouth & Southsea station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What happens after the report arrives
- Their report turnaround times
What happens on the day
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. Most visits take between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. In a smaller place like Tipner, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Preparing for the visit
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
Booking a survey
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Related advice
Tipner homes and their roofs
Tipner is within about 1 mile of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. A number of Hampshire villages keep thatched roofs on their older buildings. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Shop and office owners around Tricorn Centre may find that knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies. The streets around a church such as St Saviour's Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Tipner is about 1 mile north-west of Portsmouth, in Portsmouth. Tipner is one of many places we visit across Portsmouth. Across Portsmouth, we cover Tipner and the places around it.
We survey roofs across PO2 for chimney surveys and the streets around it. Local streets include Knox Road, Croft Road and Whaley Road. Tipner is on the M275 and A2047, so it’s easy for us to get to. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include North End (1 mile east), Rudmore (1 mile south-east), Portsmouth (1 mile south-east), Landport (1 mile south) and Hilsea (1 mile north-east).
Landmarks near Tipner
Around Tipner, our work takes us to homes and buildings near St Edmund's Catholic School, Mother Shipton pub and Mayfield School, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Portsmouth & Southsea station, roughly 1.4 miles south. Well-known places in the area include Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum (0.8 miles south) and Portchester Castle (1.8 miles north-west). For a walk, there’s Milton Locks and Portsdown Hill.
What happens if roof problems are left?
A leaning stack should be looked at sooner rather than later. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you can decide what to do next. Blocked gutters on homes around Tipner overflow and soak walls. It’s easy to sort the cause early and slow to dry a damp wall.
All our prices include VAT. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the exact price before booking.
What you get with us
- An independent look at the roof
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Surveys seven days a week
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Tips from our surveys
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
If the report recommends a structural engineer, a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer, it will say why. That helps you brief them.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. It’s far simpler than rebuilding a stack later.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Tipner
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Tipner, take more of a battering?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Will you come out to Tipner?
Yes. Tipner is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, like cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access; we will agree the details when you book.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
What do you check on a chimney?
Every part of the stack we can see from safe positions: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings. Leaning, unused stacks and damp on chimney breasts are recorded too.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Also in Tipner
Honest limits
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks