Essex · London and the South East
Matching Chimney Survey
Find out the condition of the chimney stack at your property in Matching from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
Tips that help
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Check your stacks from the ground after strong winds
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
You get the report by email and can pass it to whoever does the work. We use plain English and a photo for each defect, so it’s easy to follow.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. That helps stop damp building up inside.
Chimney survey in Matching: what you get
A leaning chimney stack is worth having looked at. A stack may lean because the mortar on one side has weakened, which can happen over many years of use. The survey notes how the stack looks, how far it seems to lean and the state of the bricks and joints. Where it may be a structural concern, we’ll recommend a structural engineer. We survey lead flashings, chimney breasts and flaunching, and common reasons people get in touch are loose, cracked or missing pots and a stack that appears to lean.
Older buildings in small places like Matching 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.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Where
- Matching (CM17)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit usually takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Older roofs in small places like Matching can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We check 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.
How to prepare
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Arrange a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Read more
Chimney surveys around Matching
Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, and lots of post-war and modern estates besides. Whatever the covering, it’s frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. About 4.1 miles north-east lies Barrington Hall, a reminder of how long the area around Matching has been built on. 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 a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you let a flat or house near Sawbridgeworth station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Matching is about 4 miles east of Harlow, in Essex. Matching gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful look at whatever is safely visible, photographs and a clear written report. Matching is one of the towns and villages in Essex where we work. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
Every address in CM17 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Close by, we survey roofs in Newman's End (1 mile north), Matching Tye (1 mile south-west), Housham Tye (1 mile south-west), Loyter's Green (1 mile south) and Magdalen Laver (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Chelmsford (13 miles east), Harlow (4 miles west), Brentwood (12 miles south), Billericay (15 miles south-east), Loughton (11 miles south-west) and Waltham Abbey (11 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Matching
The closest station to Matching is Sawbridgeworth station, about 2.6 miles north-west. A little further out are Mark Hall Cycle Museum (3.2 miles west) and Princess Alexandra Hospital (4.9 miles west). The countryside around Matching includes Sawbridgeworth Marsh.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Matching
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Matching. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Don’t go up yourself.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
Places near Matching
Other services in Matching
When to book a survey in Matching
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.
Common reasons to book include:
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
For an older house near a landmark like Parish Church of St Mary, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Before you book anyone
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
Common questions in Matching
Will you come out to Matching?
Yes, Matching is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Is my home in Matching listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
How soon will I get the report?
It depends on the package: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. The report is emailed to you.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. Our survey records its condition and how it is capped, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Typically it is water getting in from outside, or condensation in a sealed stack. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped and records the likely cause.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain doesn’t typically stop a survey. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather isn’t suitable.
Prices for chimney surveys in Matching
Survey packages start from £150, with VAT included. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Height and safe access
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. The price is always agreed first.
What to tell us when you contact us
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, tell us:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The address and postcode of the property
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.