Surrey · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Whitewood
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Whitewood, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Bricks with flaking faces
- A chimney out of line
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
Chimney surveys in Whitewood: local notes
Many older homes in Surrey have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls. A few of Surrey’s oldest buildings have heavy Horsham stone slab roofs. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary the Virgin are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. For landlords with property near Godstone station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Whitewood is about 4 miles east of Horley, in Surrey. We survey roofs in Whitewood and the rest of Surrey, as part of our work across London and South East England. Whitewood is one of the towns and villages in Surrey we cover for chimney surveys. Crawley is in our area too.
Surveys in RH9 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You’ll find streets such as Whitewood Lane and Byers Lane. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Horne (1 mile south-west), Blindley Heath (1 mile north-east), Newchapel (2 miles south-east), Lingfield Common (2 miles east) and Lingfield (3 miles east). Larger places within reach include Epsom (13 miles north-west), Horley (4 miles west), Redhill (5 miles north-west), Ewell (14 miles north-west), Reigate (6 miles north-west) and Caterham (7 miles north).
What’s near Whitewood
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Jolly Farmer pub. For rail, the closest station is Godstone station, about 2.2 miles north-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include East Surrey Hospital (4.5 miles north-west) and Effingham Park Motor Museum (3.4 miles south). For a walk, there is Hedgecourt Lake and Bay Pond.
About our chimney survey in Whitewood
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. You get photographs and findings you can take back to the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. We survey chimney pots and cowls, lead flashings and chimney breasts, and the problems we are asked to look at most are unused flues sealed without airflow and flaunching that has broken away.
Older buildings in small places like Whitewood may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Whitewood (RH9)
- Wider area
- Surrey
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
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. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
Checking the roof from the ground
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That’s where a survey comes in.
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Around Whitewood, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You tell us 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.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before we arrive
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
For a price for chimney surveys in Whitewood, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. The address, the type of property and what you’d like to know help us price the survey accurately.
Related advice
Questions from Whitewood
Do you cover smaller places like Whitewood?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
How do I find out if my home in Whitewood is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. We’ll talk about access as you book.
How long is the visit?
Most surveys take about one to two hours for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. We will confirm the timing when you book.
Will I get photos?
Yes, plenty. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, so you can see what we mean.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
What if it rains on the day?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions are not right, we will talk to you about another date.
Nearby places to Whitewood
Also in Whitewood
Landlord and commercial surveys in Whitewood
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it when you book and we will plan the survey around it.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Leave it or get it looked at?
If you are thinking of removing or reducing a stack, it’s useful to know its condition first. Changes to stacks in conservation areas or on listed buildings may need consent, so check with them first. Outbuildings and barns around Whitewood are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
Why us?
- PI and public liability insurance
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Visits on any day of the week
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Our packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- Basic, Standard or Premium
There are 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
What helps most when you contact us:
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The kind of building and roof involved
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.