Greater London · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in West Ham
Find out what’s going on with the chimney stack before you decide what to do next. We carry out chimney surveys in West Ham, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Worn or missing pointing
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
Practical tips
Getting the most from a chimney survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Make sure fixings on the stack are secure
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
After the visit, we write up the report with photos of each stack. It explains the condition of each part of the stack and any damp inside. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. Early signs are easier to trace.
How a chimney survey works in West Ham
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It is not a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. If you use a fire or a gas appliance, the flue should be checked by a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer as appropriate. We’ll tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. We survey lead flashings, chimney pots and cowls and chimney breasts, and common reasons people get in touch are flashings pulling away from the stack and cracked or missing flaunching.
Many London terraces have a butterfly roof, with two slopes meeting in a central valley gutter that drains to the rear. Hidden behind the parapet, that gutter can block or split without anyone seeing it. For a house in West Ham with this kind of roof, the hidden gutter is one of the first things to check.
Where we can’t see part of the chimney stack, the report says so. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Location
- West Ham (E15, E13, E7)
- Region
- Greater London
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- Conditions inside walls
- A structural engineer’s assessment
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
Common questions in West Ham
Can a landlord with a rental near West Ham station book a roof survey?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Is parking a problem for a survey in West Ham?
It rarely stops a survey, but it’s worth planning. Let us know the parking rules on your street and we’ll work around them.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. We check the parts we can see safely and the parts you can give us access to. Where a problem appears to be on next door’s side, we note it and you can raise it with them.
How long will you be at the property?
Expect it to take roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. You will then get the report by email.
How experienced are you?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
What do I do with the report?
We email you the written report with photos and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Do you inspect the flue?
No. Our survey covers the outside of the stack and the roof around it. For the flue, you’ll need a sweep or, for gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer.
What happens if roof problems are left?
A loose pot or brick can fall from height. Finding them early means they can be dealt with before they come down by a roofer. In West Ham, as across London, an overflowing gutter soaks the wall below. A blocked outlet ignored for a winter or two can mean damp walls inside.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
Why us?
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Package prices that include VAT
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
Take a look at our cost guide and two real surveys.
What happens on the day
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. The survey normally takes about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. In West Ham, as in much of London, plenty of properties are flats or terraces without side access, so the back of the roof is often seen from upstairs windows, from inside or, where a flight is allowed, from the air. If the building has a managing agent or access rules, tell us when booking.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Before we arrive
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Getting a price
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Also in West Ham
What we look for on each type of roof
Brick stacks
Brick stacks rely on sound pointing to keep water out. The survey looks for crumbling bricks and worn or missing mortar.
Flaunching
Flaunching is the mortar on top of a stack that holds the pots and sheds water. Once it cracks, water can get straight into the brickwork.
Landlords, agents and block managers in West Ham
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in West Ham
Historic houses like Sutton House, about 2.9 miles west, show how far back building in the area around West Ham goes. If your house is among the older ones, 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. Inner London’s Victorian and Edwardian terraces often have Welsh slate roofs. A butterfly roof with a central valley gutter, tucked behind a parapet wall, is common on these houses. If your home in West Ham is one of them, lead flashings, party-wall upstands and shared chimney stacks are part of the picture too. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
Living close to West Ham Park is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn. The streets around a church like Church of All Saints 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. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near Stratford Centre, a roof report helps plan work around trading rather than after a leak.
West Ham is about 2 miles west of East Ham, in Greater London. From houses to flats and shops in West Ham, the roof can be surveyed. We cover towns and villages across Greater London, large and small.
Surveys in E15, E13 and E7 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Whether your property is on Plaistow Grove, Willis Road and Moorey Close or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover the places around West Ham: Upton (1 mile north-east), Greengate (1 mile south-east), Maryland (1 mile north-west), Stratford (1 mile north-west) and Plaistow (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover London (5 miles south-west), City of Westminster (7 miles west), Marylebone (7 miles west), Kensington (9 miles west), St Pancras (6 miles west) and Shoreditch (4 miles west).
Local landmarks in West Ham
Around West Ham, our work takes us to homes and buildings near West Ham Church School, The Earl Of Derby Public House and St Bonaventure's RC School. West Ham’s nearest station is West Ham station, roughly 0.5 miles south-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Greenwich Castle (3.9 miles south) and Passmore Edwards Museum (0.6 miles north). For a walk, there is Old Ford Island and Tower Hill.