Essex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Matching Tye
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Matching Tye and the rest of Essex. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
Chimney survey in Matching Tye
Each stack is looked at from the safest viewpoints available: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the loft space where it’s safe. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where applicable. Where part of a stack cannot be seen, the report says so. Each defect is recorded with a photo and a plain description. If you are worried about pots or cowls that look unsafe and damp patches on chimney breasts, we can find out what’s behind it.
Somewhere as small as Matching Tye, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on what can safely be seen, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it’s normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
What you get is a clear record of the chimney stack on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Location
- Matching Tye (CM17)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Surveys for landlords and agents in Matching Tye
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, with the most urgent items set out first.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Before deciding what to do with a redundant stack, a survey shows how it’s doing. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need permission from the council and the council can advise. For older village homes like those around Matching Tye, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, access and which survey you book.
What you get with us
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- A report with photos
- Clear package prices, including VAT
- Surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
Places near Matching Tye
More services for Matching Tye
How it works
We do not take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. Most visits take an hour or two at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Around Matching Tye, older homes can have small or awkward roof 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.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- 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 roof space.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Booking a survey
If you’re buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.
Read more
What a chimney survey looks like in Matching Tye
Historic houses such as Barrington Hall, about 4.5 miles north-east, show how far back building in the area around Matching Tye goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, and lots of post-war and modern estates besides. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Homes near green spaces like Gibberd Garden can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls. If you let a flat or house near Harlow Mill station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Matching Tye is about 3 miles east of Harlow, in Essex. We cover Matching Tye and the rest of Essex. Across Essex, we cover Matching Tye and the places around it. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
All of CM17 is covered for chimney surveys. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Rainbow Road and Harlow Road. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Matching (1 mile north-east), Housham Tye (1 mile west), Loyter's Green (1 mile south), Newman's End (1 mile north) and Magdalen Laver (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (13 miles east), Harlow (3 miles west), Brentwood (12 miles south-east), Billericay (14 miles south-east), Loughton (11 miles south-west) and Waltham Abbey (10 miles south-west).
What’s near Matching Tye
In Matching Tye, that means homes and buildings near Gibberd Garden and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Harlow Mill station, about 2.7 miles west. A little further out are Harlow Mill (2.9 miles west) and Mark Hall Cycle Museum (2.9 miles west). The countryside around Matching Tye includes Sawbridgeworth Marsh.
Practical tips
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Get small mortar repairs done while they’re small. It is far simpler than rebuilding a stack later.
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney pots and cowls
Damaged pots are a safety concern as well as a leak risk. We record their condition with photos.
Rendered stacks
Some stacks are rendered, which can hide the condition of the brickwork beneath. We look for cracks, hollow areas and staining.
Matching Tye questions
Is Matching Tye within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
I let a flat near Harlow Mill station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. Shared stacks are common on terraced and semi-detached houses. We record the stack as far as we can see it and flag anything on the neighbour’s side.
How fast do I get the report?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. Each one is emailed, ready to forward.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Our survey is not a structural engineer’s report, and it does not include calculations. We’ll recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
Common roof problems in Matching Tye
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 can make a stack lean.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- A stack that appears to lean
The streets around a church like Parish Church of St Mary are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
What to check before booking
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- What exactly goes into their report
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price