Essex · London and the South East
Magdalen Laver Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Magdalen Laver, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Cracked or missing flaunching
Magdalen Laver homes and their roofs
Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it is listed or in a conservation area. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, and lots of post-war and modern estates besides. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Parish Church of St Mary Magdalen, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Magdalen Laver is about 3 miles east of Harlow, in Essex. We provide chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Magdalen Laver and nearby. We cover towns and villages across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Here we cover the CM5 postcode area for chimney surveys. We also cover the places around Magdalen Laver: Loyter's Green (1 mile north), Foster Street (1 mile west), Hastingwood (1 mile west), Housham Tye (2 miles north) and Matching Tye (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (13 miles east), Harlow (3 miles west), Brentwood (10 miles south-east), Billericay (13 miles south-east), Loughton (9 miles south-west) and Waltham Abbey (9 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Magdalen Laver
In Magdalen Laver, that means homes and buildings near The Green Man Public House and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Harlow Mill station, about 3.4 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Harlow Mill (3.6 miles north-west) and Mark Hall Cycle Museum (3.2 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Gernon Bushes.
Chimney survey in Magdalen Laver
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is often shared with next door. We look at whatever is safely visible and what the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it, so you can talk to them. You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations. If you’re worried about flashings pulling away from the stack and loose, cracked or missing pots, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a small place like Magdalen Laver, many roofs stand in the open, 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.
The report doesn’t just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Where
- Magdalen Laver (CM5)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Magdalen Laver
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.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Worn or missing pointing
If you own a rental within reach of Harlow Mill station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Whether VAT is added on top
What happens on the day
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. All in, the survey typically takes between one and two hours for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. For a village or hamlet like Magdalen Laver, the journey is planned beforehand: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We look at every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
How to prepare
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
How to book
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Towns and villages near Magdalen Laver
Also in Magdalen Laver
What a survey costs
To price your survey, we check:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, access and which survey you book.
What to tell us when you get in touch
We will usually ask about:
- The property’s address and postcode
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
Getting a price is simple: just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form, let us know about the property and we will recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Practical tips
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
You get the report by email and can pass it to whoever does the work. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo, so it’s easy to follow.
Check your stacks from the street or garden after a storm. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.
Why act early in Magdalen Laver
Loose pots and bricks on a stack are a safety concern. Finding them early means they can be dealt with before they come down by a suitable contractor. Outbuildings and barns around Magdalen Laver are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we can help you choose.
Why book with us
- Package prices that include VAT
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- An independent view of the roof
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
See our cost guide and two real surveys.
What you can safely check yourself
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
Magdalen Laver: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Magdalen Laver is listed?
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.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Harlow Mill station?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. You can call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you need, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. The report includes photos of what we found, so you can see exactly what each finding refers to.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
It can come from several places: water getting in at the top, through the brickwork or at the flashings, or moisture trapped in a stack with no ventilation. We check each one and note the most likely cause.
How soon will I get the report?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. All of them come by email.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In strong wind or a downpour, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.