London and the South East

Chimney Survey in Essex

Wherever you are in Essex, we can carry out chimney surveys. Clear prices including VAT, and surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Chimney Survey across Essex

Call 07833 053749

Book a survey

Towns we cover in Essex

A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching. Find your town in the lists below for local details, or get in touch to book a survey.

Main towns

Chimney surveys across Essex: what to expect

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 roof space. A survey finds these problems and records them with photographs. Common reasons to book are gaps where the stack meets the roof and gaps in the mortar around the pots, across flaunching, chimney pots and cowls and lead flashings.

Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks.

We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
Every part we can see is looked at: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
Where there’s safe access, we check the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.

Prices in Essex

Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can safely be seen and which survey you book.

What you get with us

A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Prices that include VAT
Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
An independent view of the roof

Arrange a survey

A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.

Landmarks near Colchester

In Colchester, that means homes and buildings near Church of St Peter, Bull Meadow and The Bay And Say Public House and the streets around them. Other local landmarks include Colchester Sixth Form College (within half a mile north-west) and St John's Green Primary School (under half a mile south). Colchester has its own railway station: Colchester Town station. A little further out are Lion Walk (under half a mile south-east) and Essex County Hospital (within half a mile south-west). Green spaces nearby include Westhouse Wood.

Chimney surveys across Essex: local notes

From Colchester, Chelmsford and Basildon to its smaller places, buildings across Essex have roofs of every age. The usual weak points are fixings, flashings, chimneys and gutters.

Our area covers London and South East England, including Essex. Housing here runs from Victorian and Edwardian terraces to post-war new towns and modern estates. Along the coast in Essex, roofs facing the sea take the brunt of the weather, so ridges, verges and flashings there often need attention first.

Colchester: If you look after a building like Colchester Sixth Form College, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale. If you live in an older home near Church of St Peter, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.

DIY checks: what’s safe

The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That’s where a survey comes in.

Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.

What a survey costs

We confirm the exact price before you book. These are the things that affect it:

Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
Any need for thermal images or a drone flight

Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.

Helping us price your survey

You don’t need to know any roofing terms. Just let us know:

The style of property, from a terrace to a block
How the loft is reached, if there is one
Where the property is, with the postcode
What made you get in touch

Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.

Rented homes, blocks and businesses

Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Tell us about it as you book and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.

Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Essex. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.

What we’re asked to look at in Essex

Some owners book because a chimney breast has been removed below and they want to know about the stack above. We note what’s visible in the roof space and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.

Signs worth acting on include:

Unused flues sealed without airflow
Cracked or missing flaunching
Flashings pulling away from the stack
Eroded joints in the brickwork

What this survey can’t tell you

Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:

What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
Areas we can’t view from safe positions
Flue inspections or sweeping

Common questions in Essex

What happens after the survey?

You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.

Will you go up on the roof?

Only if it’s safe. We check everything that can be seen safely: from ground level, from windows, from inside the loft space, from the roof where it’s safe and by drone where applicable. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.

Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?

There’s no single answer. We record how the stack is doing and whether it’s capped with ventilation. If you’re thinking of removing it, check with the council first in a conservation area or on a listed building.

How much does a chimney survey cost in Essex?

Our price is from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for your roof before booking. For a price, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.

Do you inspect shared chimneys?

Yes. We look at 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, so you can discuss it with them.

Are you insured?

Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.

Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?

No. Our survey covers the outside of the stack and the roof around it. For the flue, you will need a sweep or, for gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer.