Essex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Mark Hall North
Chimney surveys across Mark Hall North, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
How it works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, take photographs as we go and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Some parts of a survey depend on the weather, so a visit to Mark Hall North is booked with the forecast in mind: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Leave side gates unlocked
Booking a survey
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form, tell us about the property and we will explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Related advice
How a chimney survey works in Mark Hall North
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It’s not a flue inspection, a chimney sweep or a gas safety inspection. If you use a fire or a gas appliance, the flue should be checked by a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer as appropriate. We will tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. Typical surveys look at staining on walls around the chimney and flaunching that has broken away, across chimney breasts, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney pots and cowls.
Around Mark Hall North, 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, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. Nails and battens under older coverings frequently give out before the slates or tiles themselves.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Place
- Mark Hall North (CM20, CM17)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Mark Hall North
What else we do in Mark Hall North
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The shape of the roof and its details
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
What to let us know when you contact us
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To get started, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Why act early in Mark Hall North
Most people never get a careful look at their chimney stacks. Problems often go unnoticed until damp appears inside. Surveying the stack now can catch problems first. In a smaller place like Mark Hall North, wherever a roof is exposed, a loose ridge or flashing does not stay loose for long. Each storm lifts it a little further, and water follows.
Prices start from £150, including VAT, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
What you get with us
- An independent look at the roof
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- PI and public liability insurance
- Surveys seven days a week
See our cost guide and our case studies.
What we look for on each type of roof
Brick stacks
Brick stacks rely on sound pointing to keep water out. We check the bricks for spalling and the joints for erosion.
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. It is typically a modest repair when it is caught early.
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Don’t 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
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
Questions about the findings are always welcome. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. Early signs are easier to trace.
FAQs for Mark Hall North
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Mark Hall North?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Are flat-roofed garages and porches in Mark Hall North worth including?
Often, yes, so mention it as you book. Many homes in new towns like Harlow have flat-roofed garages and porches, and felt roofs frequently last around 15–20 years.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access; we will agree the details when you book.
Are you insured?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions are not right, we will talk to you about another date.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Signs you need a chimney survey in Mark Hall North
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Mortar can deteriorate unevenly from flue gases and moisture, which is one reason stacks start to lean.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- A chimney out of line
Trees in and around Harlow Marsh shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- Will the report include photos?
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Is VAT included in the price?
Local roofs in Mark Hall North
Harlow, which Mark Hall North is part of, is one of England’s post-war new towns. Homes from the post-war decades are common in the new towns, many with low-pitched roofs in concrete tiles and flat-roofed garages or porches. On homes of that age, felt underlay, flat roofs, gutters and fixings may all be due attention. Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, before anyone quotes for re-roofing.
If you live in an older home near St Andrew's Methodist Church, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Tany's Dell Primary School and Nursery, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Mark Hall North is about 1 mile north of Harlow, in Essex. Roofs in Mark Hall North get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Essex. We cover towns and villages across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
Here we cover the CM20 and CM17 postcode area for chimney surveys. If you need a chimney survey at a property on West Road, South Road and School Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. Close by, we survey roofs in Mark Hall South (1 mile south-east), Harlow (1 mile south), Netteswell (1 mile south-west), Newhall (1 mile south-east) and Latton (1 mile south-east). Further out, we also cover Brentwood (13 miles south-east), Loughton (9 miles south), Waltham Abbey (8 miles south-west), Great Dunmow (12 miles north-east), Epping (5 miles south) and Stansted Mountfitchet (9 miles north).
Local landmarks in Mark Hall North
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Essex Skipper pub, Harlow Marsh and Fawbert and Barnard's School. The closest station to Mark Hall North is Harlow Town station, roughly 0.9 miles west. Well-known places in the area include Mark Hall Cycle Museum (under half a mile east) and Princess Alexandra Hospital (1.3 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Hunsdon Mead.