Essex · London and the South East
Fordham Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys around Fordham, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
How a chimney survey works in Fordham
A leaning chimney stack is worth having looked at. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, often after years of flue gases and damp. We record the lean and the condition of the brickwork and pointing. If the stack looks like a structural issue, the report recommends a structural engineer. If you are worried about bricks with flaking faces and disused chimneys trapping moisture, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on flaunching, chimney pots and cowls and chimney breasts alike.
Older buildings in small places like Fordham may be 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. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Location
- Fordham (CO6)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Why it’s worth a survey now in Fordham
A leaning stack should be looked at sooner rather than later. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you can decide what to do next. For an older or listed building in a place like Fordham, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can safely be seen and the package you choose.
Why book with us
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Visits on any day of the week
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- Over 20 years’ experience
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
Chimney surveys around Fordham
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. In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, and plenty of post-war and modern estates besides. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
If you live in an older home near Church of All Saints, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. Landlords with a home close to Chappel & Wakes Colne station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Fordham is about 5 miles north-west of Colchester, in Essex. We visit Fordham as part of our work across Essex, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Across Essex, we cover Fordham. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Chimney surveys in CO6 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Church Road, Herring's Way and Sunnyside Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to Fordham include Fordham Heath (1 mile south), Gallows Green (1 mile south), Wormingford (2 miles north), West Bergholt (2 miles east) and Little Horkesley (3 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Colchester (5 miles south-east), Braintree (11 miles west), Maldon (14 miles south), Witham (11 miles south-west), Camulodunum (4 miles south-east) and Halstead (7 miles west).
Local landmarks in Fordham
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Three Horseshoes Public House, among other places. Fordham’s nearest station is Chappel & Wakes Colne station, roughly 1.9 miles west of the centre. A little further out are Severalls Hospital (3.9 miles east) and Mount Bures (2.9 miles north-west). Not far away are Sergeants Orchard.
Fordham questions
I let a flat near Chappel & Wakes Colne station. Can you check the roof?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you need.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Fordham?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends. To arrange a date, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
My chimney looks like it’s leaning. What should I do?
A leaning stack should be looked at. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
How much is a survey?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose, and it’s agreed before booking.
How long is the visit?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof, but most surveys take an hour or two at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
What affects the price in Fordham
When we price a survey, we consider:
- House, block, shop or office
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
What to let us know when you contact us
Some details help us point you to the right survey and price. When you get in touch, it helps to mention:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, tell us about the property and we will recommend the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer or builder. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo, so it is easy to follow.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Less load on the stack means less strain in wind.
The survey, step by step
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging. All in, the survey usually takes between one and two hours for most houses, and longer for a large or complex roof. Around Fordham, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- 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
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
How to book
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Fordham
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, with the most urgent items set out first.