Essex · London and the South East
High Ongar Chimney Survey
We carry out chimney surveys in High Ongar and the rest of Essex. We survey on any day of the week.
- A chimney out of line
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
How a chimney survey works in High Ongar
Chimney stacks take more weather than almost any other part of a house. In time, flaunching cracks, mortar washes out and flashings come loose. 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 are worried about staining on walls around the chimney and spalled or crumbling bricks, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a village or hamlet like High Ongar, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
What you get is a clear record of the chimney stack on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Where
- High Ongar (CM5)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
We look at the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey typically takes an hour or two at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. In a small place like High Ongar, access is usually the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You tell us 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.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Arrange a survey
If you’re buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
Advice
Tips that help
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
Where another specialist is needed, like a structural engineer or sweep, we explain why. That helps you brief them.
Look at your chimneys from ground level now and then, especially after strong winds. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.
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. In a place like High Ongar, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why book us in High Ongar
- Surveys seven days a week
- 20+ years’ experience
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
See what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
Common roof problems in High Ongar
Aerials and dishes are often fixed to stacks. Their weight and the wind on them can loosen bricks and pointing. We check fixings on the stack as part of the survey.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Staining on walls around the chimney
If you look after a building like High Ongar Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
What to check before booking
- Their insurance cover
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- How soon the report will arrive
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in High Ongar
If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, alongside lots of post-war and newer estates. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary the Virgin, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
High Ongar is about 6 miles north of Brentwood, in Essex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in High Ongar can all book chimney surveys. High Ongar is one of the towns and villages in Essex where we work. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
All of CM5 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Streets in the area include The Street, Mill Lane and Millfield, all of which we cover. If you’re just outside High Ongar, we cover Chipping Ongar (1 mile west), Shelley (1 mile north-west), Norton Mandeville (1 mile north-east), King Street (1 mile east) and Greensted (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Chelmsford (10 miles east), Basildon (12 miles south-east), Harlow (8 miles north-west), Brentwood (6 miles south), Billericay (9 miles south-east) and Loughton (9 miles south-west).
Landmarks near High Ongar
We work in homes and buildings around Red Lion Public House and The Ongar Academy, among other places. Other landmarks nearby include Willingale Doe (3.7 miles north-east).
Also near High Ongar
Other services in High Ongar
Checking the roof from ground level
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Your questions about chimney surveys in High Ongar
Do you cover smaller places like High Ongar?
Yes. High Ongar is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Do you carry out roof surveys in High Ongar?
Yes, High Ongar is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in High Ongar as anywhere else.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you will need a RICS survey as well.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
Don’t ignore it. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down. The survey records what we can see, and a structural engineer can assess whether it needs work.
Does the report include photos?
Yes. Photographs are part of every report, so you can see exactly what each finding refers to.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs cannot 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.
Do you inspect the flue?
No. Our survey covers the outside of the stack and the roof around it. The flue should be checked by a sweep, or by a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances.
Landlord and commercial surveys in High Ongar
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in High Ongar. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.