Essex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Great Waltham
Chimney surveys in Great Waltham from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Lifted or split lead flashings
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Helping us price your survey
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
When you are ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
About our chimney survey in Great Waltham
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. We’ll tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. If you’ve noticed worn or missing pointing and redundant stacks capped without ventilation, we can find out what’s behind it, on flaunching, chimney breasts and chimney pots and cowls alike.
Somewhere as small as Great Waltham, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it’s usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Where
- Great Waltham (CM3)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out with the most urgent first where relevant, which helps with budgets and planning.
What this survey can’t tell you
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Great Waltham
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
What a chimney survey looks like in Great Waltham
Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent. Older buildings in Essex frequently have clay tiles and weatherboarding, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
If you own a rental within reach of Beaulieu Park station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. The streets around a church like Church of SS Mary and Laurence are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. Anyone responsible for a site like Chelmer Valley High School will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Great Waltham is about 4 miles north of Chelmsford, in Essex. We carry out chimney surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Great Waltham. Our area takes in places right across Essex, large and small.
Here we cover the CM3 postcode area for chimney surveys. Local streets include Brook Mead, Cherry Garden Road and Chelmsford Road, and we cover them all. If you’re just outside Great Waltham, we cover Breeds (1 mile south-west), Minnow End (1 mile south-east), Little Waltham (1 mile south-east), Broomfield (2 miles south-east) and Chignall Smealy (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (4 miles south), Basildon (15 miles south), Braintree (8 miles north-east), Harlow (15 miles west), Brentwood (13 miles south-west) and Maldon (11 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Great Waltham
In Great Waltham, that means homes and buildings near The Beehive pub and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Beaulieu Park station, about 3.7 miles south-east. Other landmarks nearby include Broomfield Hospital (1.4 miles south). For a walk, there is Little Waltham Meadows.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
Brick stacks
Frost can damage bricks that have soaked up water, making the faces flake away. We record any we can see.
How it works
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Older roofs in small places like Great Waltham can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Book a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Advice
Great Waltham: your questions answered
Can a landlord with a rental near Beaulieu Park station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you need.
Is my home in Great Waltham listed or in a conservation area?
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.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
Do not ignore it. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down. The survey records what we can see, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it is stable.
What will the report tell me?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, with photographs throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely.
Does the report include photos?
Yes. Photos are taken throughout the survey, and they go into the written report alongside our recommendations.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
How do I book a survey in Great Waltham?
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or email us and tell us the address and what you’d like to know. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Towns and villages near Great Waltham
Also in Great Waltham
Checking the roof from ground level
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.