Essex · London and the South East
Hornestreet Chimney Survey
Wondering about the chimney stack at a property in Hornestreet? We carry out chimney surveys in Hornestreet and across Essex.
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
For landlords and managing agents
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
How a chimney survey works in Hornestreet
Redundant chimneys are common, especially where fires have been replaced by central heating. A disused stack still needs looking after. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. We survey brick chimney stacks, shared and party-wall stacks and lead flashings, and people most frequently book us about eroded joints in the brickwork and gaps where the stack meets the roof.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Hornestreet (CO4)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Do you need a chimney survey in Hornestreet?
The flaunching on top of a stack holds the pots in place and sheds water. Cracked flaunching lets water in, and each winter makes it worse. Loose pots can follow.
Common reasons to book include:
- Flaunching that has broken away
- A chimney out of line
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Worn or missing pointing
If you let a flat or house near Colchester station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
What to check before booking
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Are they insured for the work?
Places near Hornestreet
What else we do in Hornestreet
Before and after the survey
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
Where another specialist is needed, such as a structural engineer or sweep, we explain why. That helps you brief them.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
Common questions in Hornestreet
I let a flat near Colchester station. Can you check the roof?
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.
Is my home in Hornestreet listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
There are a few common causes: cracked flaunching, worn pointing, failed flashings, uncapped pots, or damp trapped in an unventilated stack. We look at each one and note the most likely cause.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
Do not ignore it. Leaning often comes from mortar breaking down unevenly. We record its condition with photos, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it is stable.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days when you book.
When does the report arrive?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. All of them come by email.
The survey, step by step
Safety comes first on every visit. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. The survey normally takes between one and two hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a hamlet or village like Hornestreet, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Preparing for the visit
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Getting a price
We confirm the exact price before you book, so you know where you stand. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Checking the roof from ground level
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
How the survey changes by roof type
Rendered stacks
What’s behind the render can’t be seen without removing some, so the report explains what we could and couldn’t assess.
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joint between the stack and the roof. We check for lifting, splits and gaps in the joints.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Hornestreet
About 2.4 miles east lies Castle House, a reminder of how long the area around Hornestreet has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, alongside a good many post-war and newer estates. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Anyone responsible for a site like Langham Primary School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Hornestreet is about 5 miles north-east of Colchester, in Essex. We visit Hornestreet as part of our work across Essex. Across Essex, we cover Hornestreet and the places around it. Chelmsford is in our area too.
Here we cover the CO4 postcode area for chimney surveys. We also cover Langham (1 mile south-west), Boxted Cross (1 mile west), Boxted (1 mile west), Lamb Corner (2 miles east) and Workhouse Hill (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Colchester (5 miles south-west), Clacton-on-Sea (14 miles south-east), Harwich (14 miles east), Camulodunum (6 miles south-west), Halstead (13 miles west) and Greenstead (4 miles south).
Local landmarks in Hornestreet
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Shepherd and Dog pub. For rail, the closest station is Colchester station, roughly 4.1 miles south-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include The Munnings Museum (2.4 miles east) and Severalls Hospital (3 miles south-west). The countryside around Hornestreet includes Westhouse Wood.