Essex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Hobbs Cross, Essex
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Hobbs Cross. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Worn or missing pointing
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
Chimney survey in Hobbs Cross: what you get
A chimney stands up above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. In time, flaunching cracks, mortar washes out and flashings come loose. Water then gets into the stack and can show as damp on a chimney breast or a stain in the loft. A survey finds these problems and records them with photos. If you’ve noticed worn or missing pointing and damaged chimney pots and cowls, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on chimney pots and cowls, chimney breasts and lead flashings alike.
In a village or hamlet like Hobbs Cross, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Place
- Hobbs Cross (CM16)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer or builder. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
Questions from Hobbs Cross
Will you come out to Hobbs Cross?
Yes, Hobbs Cross is covered. 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.
Do you cover Hobbs Cross?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Hobbs Cross as anywhere else.
What insurance do you have?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
How long will you be at the property?
It usually takes an hour or two for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. We’ll confirm the timing when you book.
How much is a survey?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the exact price before booking. For a price, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
Damp on a chimney breast typically means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. The survey looks at the stack, the flashings and the capping, and record what we find.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it’s safe. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where it applies let us see the rest.
Why get it checked now?
Before deciding what to do with a redundant stack, a survey shows how it is doing. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need permission from the council and the council can advise. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Hobbs Cross, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why book with us
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
Read how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Towns and villages near Hobbs Cross
What else we do in Hobbs Cross
Local roofs in Hobbs Cross
Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Historic houses such as Hill Hall, about 0.9 miles east, show how far back building in the area around Hobbs Cross goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of All Saints, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Hobbs Cross is about 3 miles north-east of Loughton, in Essex. If you’re in Hobbs Cross, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: a call or an email, a price, then a date. Our Essex coverage includes Hobbs Cross and the places around it. London is in our area too.
Chimney surveys in CM16 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We also cover the places around Hobbs Cross: Theydon Garnon (1 mile west), Steward's Green (1 mile north), Fiddlers Hamlet (1 mile north), Abridge (2 miles south) and Ivy Chimneys (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Harlow (7 miles north), Brentwood (8 miles south-east), Billericay (13 miles east), Loughton (3 miles south-west), Waltham Abbey (5 miles west) and Harold Wood (7 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Hobbs Cross
Nearby you will also find St. Margaret's Hospital (2.3 miles north) and Epping Signalling Museum (1.7 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Gernon Bushes.
When to book a survey in Hobbs Cross
Chimney stacks stand above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Frost works into cracks in the flaunching and pointing, and rain soaks into worn brickwork. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- A chimney out of line
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Worn or missing pointing
If you look after a building such as St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Will the report include photos?
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
Honest limits
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- A structural engineer’s assessment
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
For landlords and managing agents
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on, photos included.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
What we do, step by step
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely, from ground level, from windows, in the loft space and by drone where applicable. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. Older rural homes like those around Hobbs Cross can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can safely be seen.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Before the survey
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
Getting a price
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.