Essex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Great Leighs
Wondering about the chimney stack at a property in Great Leighs? You can book a chimney survey in Great Leighs and across Essex, with plain-English findings.
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Worn or missing pointing
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
What we cannot see
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will suggest the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Great Leighs
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is often shared with next door. We inspect the parts we can see safely and the parts the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it, so you can talk to them. Everything is written up with photos and our recommendations. We survey lead flashings, flaunching and chimney breasts, and common reasons people get in touch are loose, cracked or missing pots and gaps where the stack meets the roof.
Older buildings in small places like Great Leighs 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. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are frequently matched when work is done.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Great Leighs (CM3)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. We record any cracking and where it is.
Lead flashings
Where the chimney meets the roof slopes, lead flashings keep water out. We check for lifting, splits and gaps in the joints.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Great Leighs
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Great Leighs?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Will you come out to Great Leighs?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. We survey the stack and its weathering, not the flue. For the flue, you will need a sweep or, for gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Will I get photos?
Yes, plenty. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, so you can see what we mean.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it is applicable. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
What’s the best way to book?
To book, call 07833 053749 or email us and tell us the address and what you’d like to know. We’ll confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Local roofs in Great Leighs
What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St John the Evangelist, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. For landlords with property near Cressing station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. If you look after a building such as Great Leighs Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Great Leighs is about 4 miles south-west of Braintree, in Essex. We provide chimney surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Great Leighs. We cover towns and villages across Essex. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
All of CM3 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Aragon Road, Fortune Close and Audley Road or anywhere close by, we can help. Close by, we survey roofs in Gubbion's Green (1 mile east), Young's End (1 mile north-east), Fuller Street (1 mile south-east), Row Green (2 miles north-east) and Fairstead (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (6 miles south), Braintree (4 miles north-east), Maldon (10 miles south-east), Billericay (14 miles south), Witham (6 miles east) and Wickford (15 miles south).
What’s near Great Leighs
In Great Leighs, that means homes and buildings near The Castle pub. The nearest railway station is Cressing station, about 3.4 miles north-east. Nearby you’ll also find William Julien Courtauld Hospital (3.6 miles north-east). Open spaces near Great Leighs include Sandylay and Moat Woods.
Also near Great Leighs
Also in Great Leighs
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Getting in touch
There is no need for technical words. It’s enough to let us know:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- When you need the report by
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
For landlords and managing agents
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Great Leighs. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
What we do, step by step
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. The whole visit typically takes roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Rural addresses near Great Leighs can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- The stacks are looked at from ground level, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- 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 photos and our recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Arrange a survey
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form, tell us about the property and we’ll point you to the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Why get it checked now?
A damp chimney breast seldom dries out until the cause is found. It can stain walls and damage plaster. Finding the cause means the right work can be planned. For an older or listed building in a place like Great Leighs, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can safely be seen and which survey you book.
Why book with us
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
See our cost guide and two real surveys.