Essex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Arkesden
Chimney surveys around Arkesden, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
How a chimney survey works in Arkesden
A leaning chimney stack is worth having looked at. A stack may lean because the mortar on one side has weakened, which can happen over many years of use. We record the lean and the condition of the brickwork and pointing. Where it may be a structural concern, we’ll recommend a structural engineer. If you’ve noticed a chimney out of line and staining on walls around the chimney, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Some older homes in villages like Arkesden are 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.
After the visit, you get a report with photographs, sent by email. It explains the condition of the chimney stack, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Arkesden (CB11)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Arkesden questions
Will you come out to Arkesden?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
I let a flat near Audley End station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. You can phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you need.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Damp on a chimney breast usually 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 records the likely cause.
How fast do I get the report?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. Reports are sent by email.
How long will you be at the property?
It typically takes about 1–2 hours for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. The report follows by email.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Arkesden
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed in advance. We survey on weekdays and at weekends, which can make access easier.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photographs included.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Arkesden
About 3.5 miles north-east lies Audley End House, a reminder of how long the area around Arkesden has been built on. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
Anyone responsible for a site like Joyce Frankland Academy will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle. For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Mary the Virgin, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Arkesden is about 4 miles south-west of Saffron Walden, in Essex. We survey roofs in Arkesden and the rest of Essex. Arkesden is one of the places in Essex we cover for chimney surveys. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
All of CB11 is within our area for chimney surveys. We cover properties on Clatterbury Lane, Wicken Road and Hampit Road. We also cover the places around Arkesden: Hill Green (1 mile south), Wicken Bonhunt (1 mile south-east), Clavering (2 miles south-west), Starling's Green (2 miles south-west) and Langley (2 miles west). We also work in nearby towns like Harlow (15 miles south), Saffron Walden (4 miles north-east), Great Dunmow (12 miles south-east), Stansted Mountfitchet (6 miles south), Newhall (15 miles south) and Elsenham (6 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Arkesden
In Arkesden, that means homes and buildings near Axe And Compasses Inn. For rail, the closest station is Audley End station, roughly 2.3 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Saffron Walden Community Hospital (4.9 miles north-east) and The Warren (4 miles west).
What you can safely check yourself
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
What a survey costs
When we price a survey, we consider:
- House, block, shop or office
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- How big the roof is
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
What to let us know when you get in touch
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, it is useful to mention:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Anything about access we should know
- When you need the report by
- What’s prompted the survey
When you are ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Why get it checked now?
For a buyer, the best time to learn about a chimney is before exchange. Once you’ve exchanged, the work is down to you. A report gives you something specific to put to the seller. For an older or listed building in a place like Arkesden, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we will tell you which fits.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Arkesden
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Clear package prices, including VAT
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
Read what a roof survey costs or our case studies.
How it works
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, like stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes roughly 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. In a small place like Arkesden, access is typically the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We check 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
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Booking a survey
If you are buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email when you are ready.
Advice
Places near Arkesden
Other services in Arkesden
Signs you need a chimney survey in Arkesden
Flashings seal the gap where a stack passes through the roof. With age they can lift, split or come away from the joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Worn or missing pointing
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
If you let a flat or house near Audley End station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Questions to ask before you book
- What insurance they carry
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report