Essex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Higham, Essex
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Higham, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Staining on walls around the chimney
About our chimney survey in Higham
A leaning chimney stack is worth having looked at. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, often after years of flue gases and damp. The survey notes how the stack looks, how far it seems to lean and the state of the bricks and joints. If the stack looks like a structural issue, the report recommends a structural engineer. If you’ve noticed mortar washing out of the joints and disused chimneys trapping moisture, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Some older homes in villages like Higham 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. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photograph. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Place
- Higham (CO7)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Flaunching
Sitting at the very top, flaunching is fully exposed. The survey checks for cracking and gaps around each pot.
Chimney breasts and the loft
In the loft, staining around the stack frequently shows where water is getting in. What we find is photographed and described.
When to book a survey in Higham
Where a chimney meets the roof, lead flashings keep water out. With age they can lift, split or come away from the joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead is also a target for theft.
We’re frequently asked to look at:
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
Take a building like Stratford St Mary Primary School: its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Questions to ask before you book
- What exactly goes into their report
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
What we do, step by step
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes an hour or two for a house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. In a small place like Higham, access is typically the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We check the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Preparing for the visit
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Arrange a survey
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Higham questions
Will you come out to Higham?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Can a landlord with a rental near Manningtree station book a roof survey?
Yes, that’s a common request. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. Our survey records its condition and how it’s capped, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In strong wind or heavy rain, a drone can’t fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
What do you check on a chimney?
The whole stack, as far as it can be seen safely: from the pots and flaunching down to the flashings. Leaning, unused stacks and damp on chimney breasts are recorded too.
What does the report include?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, with photos throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely, so you know exactly what was covered.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
What a chimney survey looks like in Higham
Higham is within about 5 miles of the coast, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. With Castle House about 2.6 miles south-east, Higham sits in an area with a long building history. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Mary, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. If you let a flat or house near Manningtree station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Higham is about 7 miles north-east of Colchester, in Essex. We survey roofs in Higham as part of our work across London and the South East. Our area takes in places right across Essex. There is also a page for Chelmsford.
We work across the CO7 postcode area for chimney surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Stratford St Mary (1 mile south-east), Thorington Street (1 mile west), Holton St Mary (2 miles north-east), Withermarsh Green (2 miles north-west) and Dedham (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Colchester (7 miles south-west), Clacton-on-Sea (15 miles south-east), Harwich (13 miles east), Camulodunum (8 miles south-west), Halstead (14 miles west) and Greenstead (6 miles south).
Local landmarks in Higham
We work in homes and buildings around The Swan Inn, among other places. Higham’s nearest station is Manningtree station, about 4.2 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Severalls Hospital (5.2 miles south-west) and Little Wenham Castle (3.6 miles north-east). The countryside around Higham includes Cattawade Marshes.
Prices for chimney surveys in Higham
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Building height and the viewpoints available
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before you book.
What to tell us when you get in touch
Before you get in touch, it is useful to have:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- What’s prompted the survey
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Places near Higham
More services for Higham
Why act early in Higham
A leaning stack should be looked at sooner rather than later. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you can decide what to do next. In a place like Higham, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Higham
- 98% of customers satisfied
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Over 20 years’ experience
Read how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Tips from our surveys
Getting the most from a chimney survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It covers the pots, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings, and any damp we found inside. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.