Essex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Nounsley, Essex
Independent chimney surveys in Nounsley. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- A chimney out of line
- Cracked or missing flaunching
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Nounsley
Damp on a chimney breast can have several causes. Water may be getting in at the top through cracked flaunching or an uncapped pot, through the brickwork, or at the flashings. Condensation inside an unventilated stack is another common cause. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause. That points the work in the right direction. Common reasons to book are gaps in the mortar around the pots and loose, cracked or missing pots, on chimney breasts, flaunching and brick chimney stacks.
In a small place like Nounsley, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
If any part of the chimney stack couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Location
- Nounsley (CM3)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Nounsley
I let a flat near Hatfield Peverel station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Nounsley, take more of a battering?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
What does the report include?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos. Points are put with the most urgent first where relevant.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
Don’t ignore it. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down. The survey records what we can see, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it is stable.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, so it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
For landlords and managing agents
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Nounsley. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Nounsley
For a buyer, the best time to learn about a chimney is before exchange. After that, any work is yours to arrange and pay for. A report gives you something specific to put to the seller. Outbuildings and barns around Nounsley are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Nounsley
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- A written report with photos
- Prices that include VAT
- Surveys seven days a week
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
How it works
There is not much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes between one and two hours for most houses, and longer for a large or complex roof. In a small place like Nounsley, access is normally the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- 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 loft space.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
How to book
If you’re buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
Related advice
How the survey changes by roof type
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.
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.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Places near Nounsley
Also in Nounsley
Before and after the survey
You do not need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. It shows what we found and where from the viewpoints we used.
Check redundant flues are capped with ventilation. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
Nounsley homes and their roofs
Nounsley is within about 5 miles of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. About 4 miles south-west lies Danbury Place, a reminder of how long the area around Nounsley has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Take an older house close to Parish Church of St Andrew: the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. If you let a flat or house near Hatfield Peverel station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. Anyone responsible for a site like Hatfield Peverel Infant School will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Nounsley is about 3 miles south-west of Witham, in Essex. Nounsley is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and the South East. Our Essex coverage includes Nounsley. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
All of CM3 is within our area for chimney surveys. You’ll find streets such as Priory Mews, Ulting Road and Priory Farm Road. Other places close to Nounsley include Ulting (1 mile south), Woodham Walter (2 miles south), Langford (2 miles east), Curling Tye Green (2 miles south-east) and Wickham Bishops (3 miles east). Larger places within reach include Colchester (15 miles north-east), Chelmsford (6 miles west), Basildon (15 miles south-west), Braintree (8 miles north), Maldon (4 miles south-east) and Billericay (12 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Nounsley
We work in homes and buildings around Maltings Academy and The Sportsmans Arms and the streets around them. Nounsley’s nearest station is Hatfield Peverel station, roughly 1.3 miles north-west of the centre. Nearby you will also find Priory Hospital (5.3 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Danbury Ridge Nature Reserves.