Surrey · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Westhumble
Find out what’s going on with the chimney stack before you decide what to do next. We carry out chimney surveys in Westhumble, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- A chimney out of line
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.
Rendered stacks
We cannot see the bricks behind render without it being opened up, so the report says what can and cannot be judged.
How a chimney survey works in Westhumble
Chimney stacks take more weather than almost any other part of a house. In time, flaunching cracks, mortar washes out and flashings come loose. That lets water into the brickwork, which can show up as damp on a chimney breast or in the loft space. A survey finds these problems and records them with photographs. We survey flaunching, brick chimney stacks and lead flashings, and the problems we are asked to look at most are damp on a chimney breast inside and worn or missing pointing.
In a village or hamlet like Westhumble, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
The report is written in plain words, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Location
- Westhumble (RH5)
- Wider area
- Surrey
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey can’t tell you
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Conditions inside walls
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
What happens on the day
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where it applies. The survey typically takes about one to two hours at most homes, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Older rural homes like those around Westhumble can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
How to prepare
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Keep pets in another room
Arrange a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or send us an email, and we will ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Advice
Why act early in Westhumble
Before deciding what to do with a redundant stack, a survey shows how it is doing. Changes to stacks in conservation areas or on listed buildings may need consent, so check with them first. Around Westhumble, older homes frequently have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What you get with us
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Over 20 years’ experience
Also near Westhumble
What else we do in Westhumble
Practical tips
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
With a shared stack, the report can help when talking to next door. It shows what we found and where from the viewpoints we used.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
Signs you need a chimney survey in Westhumble
Lots of homes have redundant stacks. A stack sealed without ventilation can trap damp. Damp patches can appear on chimney breasts even when nothing is leaking.
People normally book a survey after spotting something like this:
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Worn or missing pointing
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
If you live near a park like Norbury Park, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What follow-up you get after the report
- When you will get the report
- What they will not be able to tell you
What a chimney survey looks like in Westhumble
In Surrey, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, with tile-hanging on many upper walls. Some old buildings in Surrey and Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. About 1.8 miles west lies Polesden Lacey, a reminder of how long the area around Westhumble has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as The Ashcombe School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. If you let a flat or house near Box Hill & Westhumble station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Westhumble is about 2 miles north of Dorking, in Surrey. We survey roofs in Westhumble and the rest of Surrey, as part of our work across London and the South East. Westhumble is one of the towns and villages in Surrey we cover. For surveys nearby, see our Guildford page.
We survey roofs across the RH5 postcode area for chimney surveys. Streets in the area include Adlers Lane, Chapel Lane and Burney Road, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Pixham (1 mile south-east), Mickleham (1 mile north-east), Ranmore Common (2 miles south-west), Dorking (2 miles south) and Westcott (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (10 miles west), Woking (11 miles north-west), Epsom (6 miles north-east), Horley (9 miles south-east), Redhill (7 miles east) and Ewell (8 miles north-east).
Around Westhumble
Around Westhumble, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Norbury Park, Stepping Stones pub and Pippbrook House. There’s a railway station in Westhumble itself: Box Hill & Westhumble station. Well-known places in the area include Headley Court (3.6 miles north-east) and Betchworth Castle (1.9 miles south-east). For a walk, there is Box Hill and Reigate Heath.
Common questions in Westhumble
Will you come out to Westhumble?
Yes. Westhumble is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Can a landlord with a rental near Box Hill & Westhumble station book a roof survey?
Yes, letting agents and landlords book with us as well as owners. You can phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details, including who will give access on the day.
Do you use drones?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
My chimney looks like it’s leaning. What should I do?
A leaning stack should be looked at. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
Damp on a chimney breast typically means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped, and record what we find.