Essex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Frating, Essex
Chimney surveys in Frating, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Bricks with flaking faces
Chimney survey in Frating: what you get
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It is not a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. If you use a fire or a gas appliance, the flue should be checked by a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer as appropriate. If something we see points to the flue, we’ll say so. If you’ve noticed unused flues sealed without airflow and frost-damaged brickwork on the stack, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In a small place like Frating, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Frating (CO7)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a chimney survey looks like in Frating
Frating lies within about 3 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. 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.
If you own a rental within reach of Alresford station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. For an older house near a landmark like Saint Andrew's Church, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Frating is about 3 miles east of Wivenhoe, in Essex. Surveys in Frating work the same way as everywhere we cover: a close look at what can be seen safely, photos and a clear written report. Across Essex, we cover Frating and the places around it. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
We cover every part of the CO7 postcode area for chimney surveys. Local streets include Church Road and Rectory Road, all of which we cover. We also cover Frating Green (1 mile north-east), Balls Green (1 mile north-east), Thorrington (1 mile south-east), Hare Green (2 miles north-east) and Great Bentley (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Colchester (6 miles west), Clacton-on-Sea (7 miles south-east), Harwich (11 miles north-east), Camulodunum (7 miles west), Greenstead (4 miles north-west) and Tiptree (12 miles west).
Around Frating
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Kings Arms, among other places. Frating’s nearest station is Alresford station, about 1.2 miles south-west. Nearby you’ll also find Wivenhoe Chapel Museum (2.4 miles west) and Essex County Hospital (6 miles west). The countryside around Frating includes Cockaynes Wood.
Frating: your questions answered
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Frating?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Alresford station?
Yes, letting agents and landlords book with us as well as owners. You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details, including who will give access on the day.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
Normally it’s water getting in from outside, or condensation in a sealed stack. The survey looks at the stack, the flashings and the capping and records the likely cause.
What’s in the report?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, backed by photographs. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. The report includes photos of what we found.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days as you book.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Not unless it is safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where applicable, a drone.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
What else we do in Frating
How the survey works
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. In total, it takes roughly 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Rural addresses near Frating can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We look at 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.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Read more
What a survey costs
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
What to tell us when you get in touch
There’s no need for technical words. It’s enough to let us know:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- The address and postcode of the property
We confirm the price for your roof before booking, so you know the cost up front. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Tips that help
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
If the report recommends a structural engineer, a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer, it will say why. It gives them a clear starting point.
Get small mortar repairs done while they’re small. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Frating
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
Different roofs, different checks
Flaunching
Flaunching is the mortar on top of a stack that holds the pots and sheds water. Cracks in it let water into the stack.
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. Cracks are photographed and noted.