Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Upton, Greater London
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Upton, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Worn or missing pointing
- Flaunching that has broken away
Chimney survey in Upton
Chimney stacks take more weather than almost any other part of a house. Over the years, the flaunching cracks, the pointing wears and flashings lift. That lets water into the brickwork, which can show up as damp on a chimney breast or in the roof space. We record what we find with photographs and recommendations. Common reasons to book are lifted or split lead flashings and worn or missing pointing, on lead flashings, brick chimney stacks and chimney breasts.
Victorian and Edwardian terraces are found right across London, frequently with slate roofs, chimney stacks shared with neighbours and gutters hidden behind parapets. Good slates can last over a hundred years, yet the nails frequently give out first and let slates slip. In Upton, as across London, that’s why a roof needs a close look rather than a glance from the street. Lead flashings and shared chimney stacks on these houses need a close look too.
The report doesn’t just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend.
- Place
- Upton (E7, E13, E15)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Upton homes and their roofs
Valentines Mansion, about 2.8 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Upton. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Welsh slate on Victorian and Edwardian terraces is a familiar sight across inner London. Many have butterfly roofs draining to a central valley gutter, with parapet walls and gutters hidden behind them. If your home in Upton is one of them, lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are part of the picture too. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near Stratford Centre, a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks. If you own a rental within reach of Forest Gate station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. Trees in and around West Ham Park shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Upton is about 1 mile north of Plaistow, in Greater London. Roofs in Upton get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Greater London. Upton is one of the places in Greater London where we work for chimney surveys. London is in our area too.
We survey roofs across the E7, E13 and E15 postcode area for chimney surveys. You will find streets like May Road, West Road and Park Road. If you’re just outside Upton, we cover Upton Park (1 mile south-east), Greengate (1 mile south), West Ham (1 mile south-west), Forest Gate (1 mile north) and Plashet (1 mile east). We also work in nearby towns like London (6 miles south-west), City of Westminster (8 miles west), Marylebone (8 miles west), Kensington (10 miles west), St Pancras (6 miles west) and Shoreditch (5 miles west).
Near you in Upton
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to St Bonaventure's RC School, West Ham Park and Spotted Dog pub. The closest station to Upton is Forest Gate station, roughly 0.8 miles north. Other landmarks nearby include Queen Mary's Hospital for the East End (1 mile west) and Greenwich Castle (4.4 miles south). For a walk, there is Hollow Pond and Tower Hill.
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney pots and cowls
For unused flues, we check whether caps or cowls allow ventilation. Poor capping can lead to damp inside the stack.
Rendered stacks
A rendered stack can mask problems in the bricks below. The survey checks for cracking, bulging and staining in the render.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Cracked flaunching and worn pointing are often modest repairs when they’re caught early. Left for a few winters, frost and water can loosen pots and bricks, and the work grows. Behind a London parapet, a blocked gutter can sit full of water without anyone seeing it. When the stain finally shows, the damage underneath is often older than it looks.
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why book with us
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Surveys seven days a week
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.
FAQs for Upton
How do I find out if my home in Upton is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is parking a problem for a survey in Upton?
Sometimes, yes. Where there are permit zones, a visitor permit or nearby pay-and-display bay works well, and a driveway is even better.
How fast do I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. Mention any deadline when you book.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It depends on the weather and the survey. High wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.
How long will you be at the property?
Expect it to take an hour or two for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. The written report follows by email, on the timescale of your package.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll explain what’s needed.
The survey, step by step
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. We inspect what can be seen safely, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. The survey normally takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. In Upton, visits are available on weekdays and at weekends. 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.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We check every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Getting ready for the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Leave a clear route to the loft
Booking a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Related advice
What this survey cannot tell you
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
Practical tips
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
If the report recommends a structural engineer, a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer, it will say why. It gives them a clear starting point.
Get small mortar repairs done while they’re small. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
Also near Upton
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Checking the roof from the ground
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.