Essex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Great Horkesley
A careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Great Horkesley, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Great Horkesley
A chimney stands up above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Over the years, the flaunching cracks, the pointing wears and flashings lift. That lets water into the brickwork, which can show up as damp on a chimney breast or in the loft space. We record what we find with photographs and recommendations. If you’ve noticed lifted or split lead flashings and pots or cowls that look unsafe, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Trees around homes in smaller places like Great Horkesley drop leaves, twigs and moss onto roofs and into gutters. Blocked gutters overflow and soak the walls below, and moss holds water against tiles. It’s the kind of slow problem a roof report picks up early. Moss on the roof and weeds in the gutter are both easy to spot from ground level.
Where we cannot see part of the chimney stack, the report says so. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- Great Horkesley (CO6)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Leave it or get it looked at?
For a buyer, the best time to learn about a chimney is before exchange. Once you’ve exchanged, the work is down to you. Our report gives you facts to raise with the seller or agent. Homes in smaller places like Great Horkesley can face more weather, so a loose ridge or verge soon lets rain in. Each storm lifts it a little further.
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book with us
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Surveys seven days a week
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Also near Great Horkesley
More services for Great Horkesley
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, from shops and offices to industrial units. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Landlords and agents in Great Horkesley book surveys as well as householders. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the chimney stack.
Local roofs in Great Horkesley
Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. If your home is older, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area.
If you own a rental within reach of Colchester station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. For site and facilities teams at buildings like The Bishop William Ward Church of England Primary School, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale. For businesses in and around places such as Lion Walk, a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions.
Great Horkesley is about 3 miles north of Colchester, in Essex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Great Horkesley can all book chimney surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. We cover towns and villages across Essex. Chelmsford is in our area too.
Every address in CO6 is within our area for chimney surveys. You’ll find streets like Exeter Close, Malvern Way and Keelers Way, all of which we cover. If you are just outside Great Horkesley, we cover Mile End (1 mile south-east), West Bergholt (1 mile south-west), Little Horkesley (2 miles north-west), Wissington (3 miles north-west) and Fordham Heath (3 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Colchester (3 miles south), Braintree (14 miles west), Clacton-on-Sea (15 miles south-east), Witham (13 miles south-west), Camulodunum (3 miles south) and Halstead (10 miles west).
Around Great Horkesley
In Great Horkesley, that means homes and buildings near The Half Butt Inn and Gilberd School and the streets around them. The closest station to Great Horkesley is Colchester station, roughly 1.9 miles south of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Lion Walk (2.8 miles south) and Colchester Castle (2.8 miles south-east). For a walk, there is Westhouse Wood.
What we cannot see
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
Great Horkesley questions
I let a flat near Colchester station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and letting agents book with us as well as owners. Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the building, including who will give access on the day.
How do I find out if my home in Great Horkesley is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
What does a roof survey cost?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all inc. VAT.
Are you insured?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Damp on a chimney breast normally means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped and records the likely cause.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. It isn’t a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We look at the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside, and we will say if anything suggests the flue needs checking.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. We look at the parts we can see safely and the parts you can give us access to. If a defect seems to be on your neighbour’s side, the report records it and you can raise it with them.
How we price chimney surveys
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- House, block, shop or office
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
Helping us price your survey
A few details help us suggest the right survey and price. When you contact us, let us know:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, call 07833 053749 or email us.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
What happens on the day
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, take photographs as we go and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Parking around Great Horkesley is typically easier than in a town centre, but mention lanes, gates or long drives. Low roofs on bungalows can frequently be seen well from the ground, and the loft shows the rest, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where applicable.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Getting ready for the survey
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Book a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.