Essex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Long Green
We take a careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Long Green, with photographs and a written report.
- A chimney out of line
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Mortar washing out of the joints
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Long Green
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It is not a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. For the flue itself, you’ll need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. If something we see points to the flue, we’ll say so. We’re often asked to look into unused flues sealed without airflow and staining on walls around the chimney, on lead flashings, flaunching and chimney breasts.
In a small place like Long Green, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly.
- Place
- Long Green (CM77)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, like stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes about 1–2 hours for most houses; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Older roofs in small places like Long Green can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- 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.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before we arrive
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Arrange a survey
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before booking.
Related advice
Roof by roof
Chimney pots and cowls
For unused flues, we check whether caps or cowls allow ventilation. Poor capping can lead to damp inside the stack.
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.
What a survey costs
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Which survey package you book
- The roof’s overall size
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Getting in touch
We’ll usually ask about:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or send us an email, let us know about the property and we’ll suggest the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Long Green questions
I let a flat near Braintree Freeport station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, that is a common request. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
How do I find out if my home in Long Green is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
How experienced are you?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, over more than 20 years.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
Do you cover Long Green for chimney surveys?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and that includes Long Green.
Do you inspect the flue?
No. We survey the stack and its weathering, not the flue. The flue should be checked by a sweep, or by a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances.
When to book a survey in Long Green
Many chimneys are no longer used. A stack sealed without ventilation can trap damp. That can lead to damp patches on chimney breasts, even with the roof in good order.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- A stack that appears to lean
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Bricks with flaking faces
If you let a flat or house near Braintree Freeport station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What happens after the report arrives
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Surveys for landlords and agents in Long Green
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
Also near Long Green
Other services in Long Green
Chimney surveys around Long Green
Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, alongside plenty of post-war and newer estates. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
Take an older house close to St Barnabas: its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. Anyone responsible for a site like Cressing Primary School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Long Green is about 2 miles south-east of Braintree, in Essex. Wherever you are in Long Green, we can carry out chimney surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Long Green is one of the places in Essex where we work. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Every address in CM77 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. You’ll find streets such as Pine Road, Fir Drive and Long Green. Other places close to Long Green include Tye Green (1 mile south), Hawbush Green (1 mile south-east), Black Notley (1 mile south-west), The Green (1 mile south-west) and Braintree (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Colchester (13 miles east), Chelmsford (10 miles south-west), Maldon (10 miles south-east), Witham (5 miles south-east), Camulodunum (12 miles east) and Halstead (6 miles north).
What’s near Long Green
Typical jobs here are in homes near Alec Hunter Academy, Bocking Blackwater and Fowlers Farm pub, among other places. The closest station to Long Green is Braintree Freeport station, about 0.8 miles west. Well-known places in the area include William Julien Courtauld Hospital (2 miles west) and Tudor House Museum (Braintree) (2 miles north-west). Not far away are Belcher's and Broadfield Woods.
Tips from our surveys
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Check your stacks from the ground after strong winds
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
Where another specialist is needed, such as a structural engineer or sweep, we explain why. That helps you brief them.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.