Essex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Elsenham
Find out the condition of the chimney stack at your property in Elsenham from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Worn or missing pointing
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
Why act early in Elsenham
Cracked flaunching and worn pointing are frequently modest repairs when they’re caught early. Left for a few winters, frost and water can loosen pots and bricks, and the work grows. In a smaller place like Elsenham, wherever a roof is exposed, a loose ridge or flashing does not stay loose for long. Each storm lifts it a little further.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we can help you choose.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Elsenham
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- An independent view of the roof
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
See what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
How a chimney survey works in Elsenham
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It’s not a flue inspection, a chimney sweep or a gas safety inspection. For the flue itself, you will need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. We will tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. Common reasons to book are mortar washing out of the joints and staining on walls around the chimney, on shared and party-wall stacks, brick chimney stacks and chimney breasts.
Houses in smaller places like Elsenham can face open ground, where wind and driving rain hit the roof harder. Ridge tiles, verges, chimney stacks and flashings take the worst of it. A close look shows whether anything has started to loosen. A loose ridge tile or slate gives the wind something to catch, and others soon follow.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible.
- Where
- Elsenham (CM22)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Elsenham
More services for Elsenham
What we are asked to look at in Elsenham
Lots of homes have redundant stacks. A stack sealed without ventilation can trap damp. Damp patches can appear on chimney breasts even when nothing is leaking.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Cracked or missing flaunching
If you look after a building such as Forest Hall School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Is VAT included in the price?
What we look for on each type of roof
Rendered stacks
Cracked render can let water in and trap it behind. We record any cracking and where it is.
Brick stacks
Many older stacks were built with lime mortar. Repairs should suit the original materials, which we mention where relevant.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- How big the roof is
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Helping us price your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- The property’s address and postcode
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Elsenham
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the chimney stack, with photos, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
How it works
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. We inspect everything that’s safely in view, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. The survey typically takes between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Some parts of a survey depend on the weather, so a visit to Elsenham is booked with the forecast in mind: drone flights and thermal imaging need the right conditions, while a look from ground level and the loft can go ahead in most weather.
- 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.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach them.
- You get a written report with photographs and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Leave side gates unlocked
Arrange a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Related advice
Elsenham homes and their roofs
Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. The wider area around Elsenham has a long history of building, with Horham Hall about 4 miles north-east. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters.
If you own a rental within reach of Elsenham station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. Take an older house close to Church of St Mary the Virgin: its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Elsenham is about 4 miles north-east of Bishop's Stortford, in Essex. Anywhere in Elsenham, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our area takes in places right across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
Surveys in CM22 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Station Road, High Street and Isabel Drive or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Elsenham: Fuller's End (1 mile south-east), Ugley Green (1 mile north-west), Henham (2 miles north-east), Ugley (2 miles north-west) and Brick End (3 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Braintree (14 miles east), Harlow (11 miles south-west), Saffron Walden (7 miles north), Great Dunmow (6 miles south-east), Great Notley (13 miles east) and Bocking (14 miles east).
Local landmarks in Elsenham
We work in homes and buildings around Robin Hood Public House, among other places. Elsenham has its own railway station: Elsenham station. Other landmarks nearby include House On The Hill Toy Museum (1.3 miles south-west) and Little Easton Moat (4.8 miles south-east). For a walk, there is Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve and Portingbury Hills.
Elsenham: your questions answered
Is Elsenham within the area you cover?
Yes, Elsenham is covered. Our area covers London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Can a landlord with a rental near Elsenham station book a roof survey?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Do you need to go on the roof to check the chimney?
We inspect from wherever is safe: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the roof space. A drone inspection is included in our Premium Survey where it applies. We note anything we couldn’t see.
How long will you be at the property?
It normally takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. We’ll confirm the timing when you book.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
How fast do I get the report?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. Each one is emailed, ready to forward.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so we need permission from the building owner or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.