Essex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in North End, Essex
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in North End, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Lifted or split lead flashings
How a chimney survey works in North End
Redundant chimneys are common, particularly where fires have been replaced by central heating. Even when it isn’t used, a stack has to stay weathertight. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. If you’ve noticed unused flues sealed without airflow and pots or cowls that look unsafe, we can find out what’s behind it.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Place
- North End (CM6)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in North End
Does a conservation area affect roof work in North End?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you cover North End?
Yes, North End is within the area we cover. We work right across London and South East England. Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are frequently shared, so the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only when it’s safe. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs cannot always be walked on. We use safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where it applies.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
Don’t ignore it. Leaning frequently comes from mortar breaking down unevenly. We record its condition with photos, and a structural engineer can assess whether it needs work.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. Our survey covers the outside of the stack and the roof around it. For the flue, you’ll need a sweep or, for gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer.
How long is the visit?
Expect it to take about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. You’ll then get the report by email.
Useful tips for North End property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. The photos show the problem and which side it’s on from the viewpoints we used.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked, and moved if they’re working it loose. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.
Roof by roof
Brick stacks
Most chimney stacks are built of brick, with mortar joints that wear over time. The survey looks for crumbling bricks and worn or missing mortar.
Chimney breasts and the loft
If a chimney breast has been removed below, we note what we can see of the support above. A structural engineer should confirm whether it’s adequate.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in North End
Older buildings in Essex often have clay tiles and weatherboarding, with post-war and more recent estates making up much of the newer housing. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so check with the council.
The streets around a church like Church of St Andrew are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. Take a building like The Flitch Green Academy: large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
North End is about 7 miles south-west of Braintree, in Essex. Anywhere in North End, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Across Essex, we cover North End. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in CM6 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Bennett's Lane, Mill Road and Black Chapel Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover the places around North End: Causeway End (1 mile north-east), Little Dunmow (1 mile north), Ford End (1 mile south-east), Felsted (1 mile north-east) and Brookstreet (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (8 miles south-east), Braintree (7 miles north-east), Harlow (14 miles west), Maldon (14 miles south-east), Billericay (15 miles south) and Witham (10 miles east).
Around North End
In North End, that means homes and buildings near The Butchers Arms Public House and the streets around them. Other landmarks nearby include Little Easton Moat (4.7 miles north-west) and Broomfield Hospital (5.2 miles south-east). The countryside around North End includes Phyllis Currie Nature Reserve.
What happens if roof problems are left?
A loose pot or brick can fall from height. Finding them early means they can be dealt with before they come down by a suitable contractor. Older cottages and farmhouses around North End can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in North End
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- A photo-illustrated written report
- 20+ years’ experience
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
See what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Checking the roof from ground level
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
When you need someone else
A survey is a careful look at the chimney stack, but it can’t do everything. Its limits include:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
How it works
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit usually takes an hour or two at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. In a small place like North End, access is typically the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- 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.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
How to prepare
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Getting a price
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, tell us about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.