Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Well Hill, Greater London
Know where you stand with the chimney stack before you decide what to do next. Chimney surveys in Well Hill, with photos and a clear written report.
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Bricks with flaking faces
Chimney survey in Well Hill: what you get
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: the pots and cowls, the flaunching on top, the pointing, the brickwork and the flashings where it meets the roof. Inside, we check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft where it is safe to reach. The findings come in a written report with photos and recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. If you’ve noticed damp on a chimney breast inside and flaunching that has broken away, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
London has Victorian and Edwardian terraces in almost every borough, many with Welsh slate roofs, shared chimney stacks and parapet or valley gutters. Good slates can last over a hundred years, yet the nails often give out first and let slates slip. Homes in Well Hill are no exception. Lead flashings and shared chimney stacks on these houses need a careful look too.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Where
- Well Hill (BR6)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
There is not much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, like stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. In Well Hill, 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.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can be seen safely.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach them.
- You get a written report with photos and our recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Getting a price
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
It is a careful look at the chimney stack, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Hidden damage within the stack
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
Chimney surveys in Well Hill: local notes
In outer London, interwar semis with hipped, tiled roofs sit alongside older slate-roofed terraces. On a semi of that age, the small roofs over the bays, the hip tiles and any later dormer each need their own look. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Historic houses such as Lullingstone Castle, about 2 miles east, show how far back building in the area around Well Hill goes. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years.
If you live near a park like Hewitt's Chalk Bank, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls. Landlords with a home close to Knockholt station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Well Hill is about 3 miles south-east of Orpington, in Greater London. Well Hill is one of many places we visit across Greater London, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Our Greater London coverage includes Well Hill and the places around it. There’s also a page for London.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: BR6. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Well Hill, Pump Lane and Firmingers Road. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Maypole (1 mile west), Bopeep (1 mile south-west), Chelsfield (1 mile west), Badgers Mount (1 mile south) and Goddington (2 miles west). We also work in nearby towns like London (14 miles north-west), Shoreditch (15 miles north-west), Whitechapel (15 miles north-west), Stockwell (14 miles north-west), Orpington (3 miles north-west) and Plaistow (13 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Well Hill
Typical jobs here are in homes near Harris Academy Orpington, Hewitt's Chalk Bank and The Rock And Fountain Public House, among other places. The nearest railway station is Knockholt station, roughly 1.1 miles south-west of the centre. A little further out are Lullingstone Castle (2 miles east) and London Borough of Bromley Museum (2.5 miles north-west). The countryside around Well Hill includes The Warren.
When to book a survey in Well Hill
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We note what’s visible in the roof space and outside, and recommend a structural engineer where support is in question.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- A chimney out of line
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
Take an older house close to Mission Chapel: its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Before booking anyone
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Are they insured for the work?
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
What we look for on each type of roof
Rendered stacks
What’s behind the render cannot be seen without removing some, so the report says what can and can’t be judged.
Chimney breasts and the loft
In the loft, staining around the stack often shows where water is getting in. What we find is photographed and described.
How we price chimney surveys
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- How big the roof is
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Which survey package you book
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Getting in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- What made you get in touch
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Landlords and letting agents in Well Hill book surveys as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the chimney stack, with photos, useful for planning maintenance.
FAQs for Well Hill
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Well Hill?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Knockholt station?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you need, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
How experienced are you?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, so it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
How long will you be at the property?
Expect it to take between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. You’ll then get the report by email, on the timescale of your package.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We check the parts we are given access to, and the report makes that clear.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it applies and safe. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where it applies.