Essex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Bannister Green
We carry out chimney surveys in Bannister Green and the rest of Essex. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Worn or missing pointing
Chimney survey in Bannister Green: what you get
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We inspect the parts we can see safely and the parts the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it and you can then discuss it with them. You get a written report with photos and our recommendations. We are often asked to look into damp patches on chimney breasts and disused chimneys trapping moisture, across flaunching, brick chimney stacks and chimney breasts.
Older buildings in small places like Bannister Green may be listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is frequently expected.
If any part of the chimney stack couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Location
- Bannister Green (CM6)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- 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
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
We check the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey normally takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. Older roofs in small places like Bannister Green can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Preparing for the visit
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
Booking a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
Practical tips
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
Once we’ve been, the findings are written up with photos. 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.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
FAQs for Bannister Green
How do I find out if my home in Bannister Green is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Will you come out to Bannister Green?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
What should I do with a chimney I don’t use?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. We check how it is capped and its condition, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
Does the report include photos?
Yes. Photos are part of every report, so you can see exactly what each finding refers to.
What happens after the survey?
The report comes by email, and you decide the next step: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
What’s in the survey report?
It sets out what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, with photographs throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, so you know exactly what was covered.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
What we’re asked to look at in Bannister Green
Many chimneys are no longer used. If a stack is capped or blocked without ventilation, moisture can build up inside. Damp patches can appear on chimney breasts even when nothing is leaking.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Worn or missing pointing
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Felsted Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
What to check before booking
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- What they will not be able to tell you
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- What happens after the report arrives
Chimney surveys around Bannister Green
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. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, ideally before any re-roofing is planned.
If you let a flat or house near Braintree station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Bannister Green is about 4 miles west of Braintree, in Essex. In Bannister Green, as across Essex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
We survey roofs across CM6 for chimney surveys and the streets around it. Local streets include Stevens Lane, Cressages Close and Burnstie Road, all of which we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Watch House Green (1 mile north-west), Felsted (1 mile west), Causeway End (1 mile south-west), Blake End (1 mile north) and Willows Green (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (9 miles south), Braintree (4 miles east), Maldon (13 miles south-east), Witham (8 miles south-east), Saffron Walden (15 miles north-west) and Halstead (9 miles north-east).
Around Bannister Green
We work in homes and buildings around The Three Horseshoes pub, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Braintree station, about 4.1 miles east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Braintree Community Hospital (3.5 miles north-east). Not far away are Phyllis Currie Nature Reserve.
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings
Mortar fillets are sometimes used where lead would usually be. They tend to crack, so we look at them closely.
Brick stacks
Brick stacks rely on sound pointing to keep water out. The survey looks for crumbling bricks and worn or missing mortar.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Damp in a chimney breast typically gets worse while the cause is left. It can spoil decoration and plaster. Finding the cause means the right work can be planned. In a place like Bannister Green, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Bannister Green
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- An independent view of the roof
Also near Bannister Green
Also in Bannister Green
Landlord and commercial surveys in Bannister Green
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work with less disruption.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the survey around it.