Hampshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Viables
Wondering about the chimney stack at a property in Viables? You can book a chimney survey in Viables and across Hampshire.
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
How a chimney survey works in Viables
If you are buying a home with chimneys, it is worth knowing their condition before you exchange. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it. We survey shared and party-wall stacks, lead flashings and chimney breasts, and people most often book us about damp patches on chimney breasts and redundant stacks capped without ventilation.
In a smaller place like Viables, some roofs stand more exposed to wind and rain than in a built-up town. That weather tells first on ridges, verges, chimneys and flashings. 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.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Location
- Viables (RG21, RG22, RG25)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Brick stacks
Most chimney stacks are built of brick, with mortar joints that wear over time. The survey looks for crumbling bricks and worn or missing mortar.
Chimney pots and cowls
Each pot is bedded into the flaunching, frequently with a cowl or cap on top. We check that they look secure and undamaged.
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 between one and two hours for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Homes around Viables frequently have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Mention any side of the property we can’t get to. Inside, the loft is looked at where it can be reached safely.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- 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.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
How to prepare
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Book a survey
We confirm the price for the job before you book, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
What a survey costs
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- House, block, shop or office
- The size of the roof
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
What to tell us when you get in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- When you need the report by
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The property’s address and postcode
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Viables: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Viables?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Do you cover smaller places like Viables?
Yes, Viables is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
What happens next?
The report arrives by email, with photos and clear recommendations. With Standard there’s a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
Does someone need to be in?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed when you book.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can normally go ahead in light rain, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Strong wind or a downpour can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so if conditions are not right we will arrange another day with you.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you will need a RICS survey as well.
Nearby places to Viables
Also in Viables
Common roof problems in Viables
Where a chimney meets the roof, lead flashings keep water out. They can lift in wind, crack with age or pull out of the mortar joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead is also a target for theft.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- A stack that appears to lean
- Worn or missing pointing
If you own a rental within reach of Basingstoke station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
What to check before booking
- What the survey won’t cover
- What experience they bring
- Whether VAT is added on top
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
Checking the roof from ground level
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. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey.
Tips that help
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Make sure fixings on the stack are secure
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. Early signs are easier to trace.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Viables
Some Hampshire villages still have thatched roofs. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. The wider area around Viables has a long history of building, with The Vyne about 3.9 miles north. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you run a business near Festival Place, a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions. The streets around a church like Church of All Saints are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Viables is about 1 mile south-east of Basingstoke, in Hampshire. We survey roofs in Viables and the rest of Hampshire, as part of our work across London and South East England. Our Hampshire coverage includes Viables and the places around it. Our Reading page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in RG21, RG22 and RG25 are booked the same way as anywhere else. You will find streets such as Grove Road, Porter Road and Morley Road, all of which we cover. We also cover the places around Viables: Cliddesden (1 mile south), Eastrop (1 mile north), Oakridge (1 mile north), Lychpit (2 miles north-east) and Old Basing (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Farnborough (14 miles east), Fleet (11 miles east), Aldershot (14 miles east), Alton (8 miles south-east), Yateley (13 miles north-east) and Tadley (8 miles north).
What’s near Viables
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Costello School, Queen Mary's College and Hackwood Park and the streets around them. The closest station to Viables is Basingstoke station, roughly 1.3 miles north of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Willis Museum (0.9 miles north) and Festival Place (1.1 miles north). Open spaces near Viables include The Mill Field and Farleigh Hill.