Essex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Gilston
A careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Gilston, with photos and a written report.
- Worn or missing pointing
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
Chimney survey in Gilston
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. For the flue itself, you’ll 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. We survey flaunching, brick chimney stacks and lead flashings, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are spalled or crumbling bricks and a chimney out of line.
Some older homes in villages like Gilston are 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. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Gilston (CM20)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Gilston
Gilston is part of Harlow, one of the post-war new towns. Many homes in the new towns date from the post-war decades, with concrete interlocking tiles, low-pitched roofs and flat-roofed garages and porches. Low-pitched roofs shed water more slowly, and older concrete tiles, felt and gutters on these homes may be nearing the end of their life. Historic houses such as Much Hadham Palace, about 4.8 miles north, show how far back building in the area around Gilston goes. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Anyone responsible for a site like St Alban's Catholic Academy will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. Homes near green spaces like Harlow Marsh can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Gilston is about 2 miles north-west of Harlow, in Essex. We carry out chimney surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Gilston and nearby. Gilston is one of the towns and villages in Essex where we work for chimney surveys. There’s also a page for Chelmsford.
Every address in CM20 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Streets in the area include Pye Corner and Eastwick Road. Other places close to Gilston include Eastwick (1 mile south-west), Little Parndon (1 mile south-west), Great Parndon (2 miles south), Staple Tye (3 miles south) and Roydon (3 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Brentwood (14 miles south-east), Loughton (10 miles south), Waltham Abbey (8 miles south-west), Great Dunmow (13 miles north-east), Epping (6 miles south) and Stansted Mountfitchet (9 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Gilston
Around Gilston, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Plume Of Feathers pub, Burnt Mill Academy and Harlow Marsh, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Harlow Town station, roughly 0.6 miles south of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Mark Hall Cycle Museum (1.3 miles south-east) and Harlow Mill (1.2 miles east). For a walk, there’s Hunsdon Mead.
Practical tips
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
- Check unused flues are capped with ventilation
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare.
Check redundant flues are capped with ventilation. That helps stop damp building up inside.
Also near Gilston
Also in Gilston
What affects the price in Gilston
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Which survey package you book
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
Helping us price your survey
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, it helps to mention:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- When you need the report by
- The kind of building and roof involved
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Gilston
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Harlow Town station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Gilston?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
What does a roof survey cost?
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
The survey covers the pots and cowls, the flaunching, the pointing, the bricks and the flashings. Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. You get a written report with photos.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. Photographs are taken throughout the survey, and the report uses them to show each finding alongside our recommendations.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it’s safe. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs can’t always be walked on. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where it applies let us see the rest, and the report records anything we couldn’t see.
The survey, step by step
Every roof is different, but as a rough guide the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Around Gilston, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know 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.
- We check every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Preparing for the visit
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Book a survey
We survey roofs on weekdays and at weekends. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney breasts and the loft
In the loft, staining around the stack frequently shows where water is getting in. We record what we see with photographs.
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
Signs you need a chimney survey in Gilston
Many chimneys are no longer used. A stack sealed without ventilation can trap damp. That can lead to damp patches on chimney breasts, even with the roof in good order.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- A stack that appears to lean
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
If you let a flat or house near Harlow Town station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Questions to ask before booking
- What insurance they carry
- When you’ll get the report
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
Leave it or get it looked at?
If a stack seems to lean, don’t leave it. Our survey records it and says when a structural engineer should look at it, so you can decide what to do next. In a small place like Gilston, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
Why book with us
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Visits on any day of the week
- Plain-English reports with photos
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or our case studies.