Essex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Balls Green, Essex
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? We carry out chimney surveys in Balls Green and across Essex, with plain-English findings.
- Worn or missing pointing
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
How it works
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the loft space if there is safe access. In total, it takes an hour or two at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Around Balls Green, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Before the survey
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Balls Green
If a chimney looks out of line, it is worth getting it checked. 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 will recommend a structural engineer. Common reasons to book are damp patches on chimney breasts and gaps in the mortar around the pots, on brick chimney stacks, lead flashings and chimney pots and cowls.
In a village or hamlet like Balls Green, 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. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it’s typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Place
- Balls Green (CO7)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Balls Green
Other services in Balls Green
Questions from Balls Green
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Balls Green?
Frequently, yes. Balls Green is within about 4 miles of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
I let a flat near Great Bentley station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the building, including who will give access on the day.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Usually it is water getting in from outside, or condensation in a sealed stack. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped and records the likely cause.
Does this replace a RICS home 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.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
A leaning stack should be looked at. Our survey notes how it looks and the condition of the bricks and joints, and recommend a structural engineer where it may be a structural concern.
Will I get photos?
Yes, every report has them. Pictures sit next to the findings they show, so you can see what we mean.
How much is a survey?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included.
Chimney surveys around Balls Green
Balls Green is within about 4 miles of the coast, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Near the sea, metal fixings wear faster and loose pieces on a roof are more likely to lift, while driving rain finds any gap. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
Around Balls Green, as everywhere, small roof faults are simplest to sort before they let water in.
Balls Green is about 6 miles east of Colchester, in Essex. We carry out chimney surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Balls Green and the surrounding area. Balls Green is one of the places in Essex we cover. There is also a page for Chelmsford.
Here we cover the CO7 postcode area for chimney surveys. Local streets include Frating Road, Chapel Lane and Brundells Road. Other places close to Balls Green include Hare Green (1 mile north), Frating Green (1 mile south), Cowey Green (1 mile north), Frating (1 mile south-west) and Great Bromley (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Colchester (6 miles west), Clacton-on-Sea (7 miles south-east), Harwich (10 miles east), Camulodunum (7 miles west), Greenstead (4 miles west) and Tiptree (13 miles west).
What’s near Balls Green
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Snooty Fox pub, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Great Bentley station, about 2.1 miles south-east. Nearby you’ll also find Wivenhoe Chapel Museum (3.3 miles west). Open spaces near Balls Green include Cockaynes Wood.
Why act early in Balls Green
Chimneys are easy to forget because you rarely see the top of them. Problems often go unnoticed until damp appears inside. A survey gives you a clear picture before that happens. Matching old materials, like handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why us?
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Over 20 years’ experience
See how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
When to book a survey in Balls Green
Chimney stacks stand above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Frost opens up cracks in the mortar, and rain gets into worn bricks and joints. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
Landlords with a home close to Great Bentley station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
What to check before booking
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
Practical tips
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer or builder. We use plain English and a photo for each defect so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Check redundant flues are capped with ventilation. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
How the survey changes by roof type
Flaunching
We frequently find flaunching that has cracked or broken away. Caught early, it’s often a small job.
Chimney pots and cowls
Damaged pots are a safety concern as well as a leak risk. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
When you need someone else
It helps to know what a survey will not do before you book:
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
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. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Balls Green
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls