Essex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Marks Gate
Find out what’s going on with the chimney stack before you decide what to do next. We carry out chimney surveys in Marks Gate.
- A chimney out of line
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
Do you need a chimney survey in Marks Gate?
Flaunching is the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the top. Once it cracks, water gets in and frost makes the cracks bigger. Loose pots can follow.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- A stack that appears to lean
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
For an older house near a landmark such as St Mark's, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How soon the report will arrive
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What happens after the report arrives
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
How a chimney survey works in Marks Gate
Chimney stacks take more weather than almost any other part of a house. In time, flaunching cracks, mortar washes out and flashings come loose. That lets water into the brickwork, which can show up as damp on a chimney breast or in the loft space. We record what we find with photographs and recommendations. If you’re worried about a stack that appears to lean and mortar washing out of the joints, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Older buildings in small places like Marks Gate may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photo where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Location
- Marks Gate (RM7, RM5, RM6)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey typically takes between one and two hours at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. Rural addresses near Marks Gate can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- 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.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Getting ready for the survey
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
Getting a price
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
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Common questions in Marks Gate
Will you come out to Marks Gate?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Can a landlord with a rental near Chadwell Heath station book a roof survey?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, like cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
There’s no single answer. The survey shows its condition and how it’s been capped. If you are thinking of removing it, check with the council first in a conservation area or on a listed building.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
What’s the best way to book?
The quickest way is to call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Let us know the address and a little about the roof, and we’ll point you to the right survey. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
What insurance do you have?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Marks Gate
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed in advance. We survey on any day of the week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
What you can safely check yourself
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.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
Useful tips for Marks Gate property owners
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. Early signs are easier to trace.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Most people never get a careful look at their chimney stacks. Defects tend to go unseen until there’s a stain. A survey gives you a clear picture before that happens. For an older or listed building in a place like Marks Gate, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, including VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why book us in Marks Gate
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Prices that include VAT
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Towns and villages near Marks Gate
Other services in Marks Gate
Local roofs in Marks Gate
The wider area around Marks Gate has a long history of building, with Hare Hall about 2.8 miles east. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
For businesses in and around places such as Romford Shopping Hall, a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks. Living close to Fairlop Waters is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Marks Gate is about 2 miles north-west of Romford, in Essex. Wherever you are in Marks Gate, we can carry out chimney surveys at your property. Our area takes in places right across Essex, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
We cover every part of RM7, RM5 and RM6 for chimney surveys and the streets around it. Whether your property is on Walton Road, Hamlet Road and Hog Hill Road or a nearby road, we can help. Marks Gate sits on or near the A1112, which makes travel easy. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Chadwell Heath (1 mile south), Little Heath (1 mile south-west), Collier Row (1 mile east), Rise Park (2 miles east) and Romford (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Basildon (14 miles east), Harlow (12 miles north), Brentwood (7 miles east), Billericay (12 miles east), Loughton (5 miles north-west) and Waltham Abbey (9 miles north-west).
What’s near Marks Gate
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Warren School, Fairlop Waters and Colley Rowe Inn. The closest station to Marks Gate is Chadwell Heath station, roughly 1.9 miles south. Nearby you’ll also find Redbridge Museum (3.8 miles south-west) and Romford Shopping Hall (1.8 miles south-east). Not far away are Hainault Lodge.