Essex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Hockley
Find out the condition of the chimney stack at your property in Hockley from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Mortar washing out of the joints
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Hockley
A chimney survey is about the outside of the stack and the roof around it. It is not a flue inspection, a chimney sweep or a gas safety inspection. For the flue itself, you will need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. We will tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. Typical surveys look at lifted or split lead flashings and eroded joints in the brickwork, on flaunching, chimney pots and cowls and chimney breasts.
Around Hockley, older cottages sit alongside bungalows and newer houses. Coverings range from slate and clay tiles on older homes to concrete tiles on many later ones. Chimneys, valleys and gutters on older homes often need the most attention. The fixings under an older roof often fail before good slates or tiles do.
The report records the chimney stack as we found it on the day. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Place
- Hockley (SS5)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. In total, it takes between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Being in a smaller place like Hockley does not change how the visit works: outside, inside and from any safe vantage point, in that order. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about parking near the property
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
How to book
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email, let us know about the property and we will explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
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For landlords and managing agents
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
Hockley questions
Is Hockley within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Hockley station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
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.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but we don’t provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. If one is needed, the report says so.
How fast do I get the report?
It depends on the package: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. Reports are sent by email.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report alongside our recommendations.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings
Flashings can lift in wind or pull out of their mortar joints. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
Flaunching
Flaunching is the mortar on top of a stack that holds the pots and sheds water. Cracks in it let water into the stack.
Hockley homes and their roofs
Hockley lies within about 5 miles of the sea, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Near the sea, metal fixings wear faster and loose pieces on a roof are more likely to lift, while driving rain finds any gap. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
For an older house near a landmark such as Emmanuel Church Hall, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. Landlords with a home close to Hockley station may find that a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. Anyone responsible for a site like Greensward Academy will know that large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Hockley is about 2 miles east of Rayleigh, in Essex. We provide chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Hockley. Across Essex, we cover Hockley. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Here we cover the SS5 postcode area for chimney surveys. We cover properties on Station Road, Church Road and Eldon Way and the roads around them. If you’re just outside Hockley, we cover Ashingdon (1 mile east), Brandy Hole (2 miles north-west), South Fambridge (2 miles north-east), Hullbridge (2 miles north-west) and North Fambridge (3 miles north). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (12 miles north-west), Basildon (9 miles west), Brentwood (15 miles west), Maldon (9 miles north), Canvey Island (6 miles south-west) and Billericay (10 miles west).
Local landmarks in Hockley
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Bull Public House, Marylands Nature Reserve and Plumberow Primary Academy. There is a railway station in Hockley itself: Hockley station. Other landmarks nearby include Southend University Hospital (3.7 miles south) and Rayleigh Castle (2.5 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Blue House Farm.
Places near Hockley
More services for Hockley
What happens if roof problems are left?
If you’re buying, find out about the stacks before you exchange. Once you’ve exchanged, the work is down to you. A report gives you something specific to put to the seller. Blocked gutters on homes around Hockley overflow and soak walls, especially where trees overhang. It is easy to sort the cause early and slow to dry a damp wall.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why us?
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Every finding written up with photos
- 98% of clients satisfied
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Take a look at our cost guide or two real surveys.
Prices for chimney surveys in Hockley
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The size of the roof
- Which survey package you book
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
What we need to know
There is no need for technical words. It is enough to tell us:
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- Anything about access we should know
- What made you get in touch
When you are ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Can I check my roof myself?
Keep a simple 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.
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.