Trust Roofing Services
Chimney Structural Surveys & Inspections Nottingham
- Free Drone Survey
- Written Report & Certificate
- 10-Year Workmanship Guarantee
Professional Chimney Structural Survey and Inspection
At Trust Roofing Services, we carry out chimney structural surveys and inspections in Nottingham for homeowners, landlords and buyers across Nottinghamshire — from period terraces in Sherwood to detached homes in West Bridgford.
We cover the full range of survey types: structural assessments, CCTV flue inspections, smoke tests and external stack checks. Where ladder access is restricted or unsafe, we offer a free drone survey — no scaffolding required.
Every survey ends with a written report and a certificate of survey you can use for insurance, conveyancing or building control purposes.
Call 0115-647-3275 today to arrange yours.
What a Chimney Structural Survey Involves
A structural survey inspects every part of your chimney system, not just what's visible from the ground.
- External stack check covering brickwork, pointing, flaunching, the chimney pot and lead flashing or tray
- Internal check from inside the property, looking at ceilings and loft space near the breast for staining, damp or movement
- CCTV flue survey, with a camera passed through the swept flue to examine the liner, mortar joints and any blockages or cracks
- Smoke test, combining a dynamic draw test with a sealed static pressure test, used where smoke enters a room or a flue is shared between neighbouring properties
- Free drone survey giving HD aerial footage of the stack, pointing, flaunching, pot and lead tray where ladder access is not safe
- Written report and certificate of survey covering everything checked and found, with photos or footage attached
Not Included / Costed Separately
- Repointing, flaunching renewal, pot replacement or flashing repairs — quoted separately once the findings are known
- A chimney sweep, if the flue has not already been swept, since a CCTV survey and smoke test both need a swept flue for an accurate result
- Scaffolding, where a stack needs it for hands-on repair work afterwards rather than for the survey itself
- A structural engineer's report, in the rare case a survey turns up signs of movement beyond what a roofline repair can address
- Gas appliance certification, which sits with a Gas Safe registered engineer and outside a chimney structural survey
- Wood burner or stove installation itself, carried out separately by a HETAS-registered installer once the flue is confirmed suitable
Chimney Survey Pricing: What Changes the Cost
Costs vary with the type of inspection needed and how the stack is accessed. A visual inspection from roof level is generally the most affordable option, while a CCTV flue survey costs more because of the specialist camera equipment, the flue sweep required first, and the recorded footage and report that come with it.
Where ladder access is restricted or unsafe — common on taller Nottingham terraces — our drone survey is included free rather than charged as an extra. Every quote is itemised, confirmed in writing before any work begins, and there's no obligation to proceed. Call for a free, no-obligation assessment.
How to Tell If Your Chimney Is Load-Bearing
Before removing a chimney breast or carrying out structural work nearby, you need to know whether it's load-bearing. Some visual clues suggest a chimney may be structural:
- The breast runs through all floors from ground level to the roof
- The brickwork is thick — typically over 200mm
- The chimney sits centrally inside the property rather than against an external wall
- The stack continues above the roofline rather than stopping in the loft
These clues are a starting point, not a conclusion — only a qualified structural engineer can confirm load-bearing status.
| Method | What it checks | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Visual inspection | Stack and brickwork from roof level and inside the property | First step for any chimney concern |
| CCTV flue survey | Liner condition, cracks and blockages inside the flue | Before fitting a wood burner or recommissioning a dormant flue |
| Smoke test | Draw performance and leakage into adjacent rooms | Smoke entering a room or a shared flue between properties |
| Free drone survey | HD aerial view of pointing, flaunching, pot and lead tray | Where ladder access is restricted or unsafe |
How We Read a Nottingham Chimney Stack Before the Ladder Goes Up
After 15+ years surveying Nottingham's Victorian and Edwardian chimney stacks as a family-run team, our surveyors know exactly where to look before a ladder even goes up — open flaunching, spalling brick, a pot rocking loose on cracked mortar. Our specialists are CSCS-certified and work to NFRC roofing standards, so every inspection follows a recognised industry benchmark.
The same team is IOSH-trained for safe working at height, and insurance is sorted before anyone sets foot on your roof. Any follow-up repair work is backed by our 10-year workmanship guarantee, with BBA-approved materials. Every report is written in plain English, backed by photos or CCTV footage rather than opinion alone.
Chimney Survey Coverage From Hucknall Across Nottingham and Beyond
We're based at 40 Harrow Rd in Hucknall, NG15, and that's where every chimney survey booking is dispatched from. Nottingham itself — from the Victorian terraces of the Meadows and Sneinton to the semis of West Bridgford and Wollaton — makes up the bulk of the work, alongside Arnold, Bulwell, Carlton and Beeston.
Coverage extends into the wider East Midlands too, including Mansfield, Newark-on-Trent, Eastwood, Kirkby and Sutton in Ashfield, Long Eaton, Stapleford, and across the Derbyshire border into Ilkeston and the Erewash area. Whichever part of Nottinghamshire a property sits in, the same booking process, survey methods and written report apply.
Frequently Asked Questions — Chimney Structural Surveys & Inspections in Nottingham
How do I know if my chimney needs a structural survey?
Signs worth having checked include a leaning or visibly damaged stack, damp patches on a ceiling near the chimney breast, a smell of smoke in a room that isn't the one with the fire lit, or a stack that has simply never been looked at despite the property being decades old. A visual inspection is usually the first step, and it flags whether a CCTV survey or smoke test is needed on top of that.
What's the difference between a CCTV flue survey and a smoke test?
A CCTV survey passes a camera through the length of the flue after it has been swept, recording the condition of the liner and mortar joints and picking up cracks or blockages that can't be seen from either end. A smoke test checks how the flue performs, whether it draws properly and whether smoke is escaping into a room or a neighbouring property.
Do I need my chimney swept before a CCTV survey?
Yes. A CCTV camera can't give an accurate picture of the flue liner through a build-up of soot, so the flue is swept first as part of the survey process rather than being booked as a separate job beforehand.
When would you use the drone survey instead of a ladder?
Where a stack is unusually tall, sits above a steep or fragile roof, or simply isn't safe to reach by ladder — common on some of Nottingham's taller terraces — a CAA-registered operator flies the drone survey instead, at no extra cost. It gives HD footage of the stack, pointing, flaunching, pot and lead tray without anyone needing to go up.
Will I get anything in writing after the survey?
Every survey ends with a written report and certificate of survey, covering what was checked, what was found, and photos or footage to back it up. Nothing is left as a verbal-only opinion.
What happens if the survey finds a problem?
The findings are talked through on site in plain language, and if repair work is needed — such as repointing, flaunching renewal, a new pot or flashing repairs — a written, itemised quote follows separately, with no obligation to go ahead with it.
Is a chimney structural survey the same as a gas safety check?
No. A structural survey covers the physical condition of the stack and flue, including brickwork, flaunching, liner, pointing, draw and smoke leakage, rather than the gas appliance connected to it. A gas fire or boiler still needs checking separately by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
How long does a chimney survey take?
A straightforward visual inspection can often be done within an hour. Adding a CCTV flue survey, smoke test or drone flight extends that, depending on how many flues are involved and how the stack is accessed, though a firm timeframe is usually confirmed when the survey is booked.
Ready to Book Your Chimney Survey? Here Is How to Take the Next Step
Your chimney is one of the most overlooked parts of your home — until something goes wrong. A leaning stack, a cracked liner or a blocked flue does not announce itself until the damage is already done.
Trust Roofing Services has been looking after Nottingham roofs for over 15 years. We are a local, family-run team based in Hucknall — not a call centre or a national franchise.
Here is what we offer every customer:
- Free drone survey where ladder access is restricted — no scaffolding needed
- Written report and certificate of survey with every inspection
- Fully insured — public liability and employer's liability as standard
- Honest, plain-English advice with no unnecessary upselling
- 10-year workmanship guarantee on any follow-up repair work
- Same-week bookings available across Nottinghamshire
Do not wait for a small fault to become an expensive one. Call to arrange your chimney structural survey.
Harrow Rd, Hucknall, Nottingham NG15 6JD
0115-647-3275
Call Trust Roofing Services now on 0115-647-3275, or use our contact form to request a callback.
Get in Touch
Trust Roofing Services — Hucknall
Harrow Rd, Hucknall, Nottingham NG15 6JD
0115-647-3275
office@roofersnottinghamgrp.co.uk
Trust Roofing Services
Chimney Structural Surveys & Inspections · Contact Us Now
- Free Drone Survey
- Written Report & Certificate
- 10-Year Workmanship Guarantee
Contact Us. Let's talk about your Chimney Survey
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