Essex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Pilgrims Hatch
Know where you stand with the chimney stack before you decide what to do next. We carry out chimney surveys in Pilgrims Hatch, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Lifted or split lead flashings
Do you need a chimney survey in Pilgrims Hatch?
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We note what’s visible in the loft space and outside, and recommend a structural engineer where support is in question.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Worn or missing pointing
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Lifted or split lead flashings
Trees in and around Weald Country Park shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Are they insured for the work?
- What the survey will not cover
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
How a chimney survey works in Pilgrims Hatch
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. On older stacks, we often find cracked flaunching, loose flashings and worn pointing. You get photos and findings you can take back to the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. We survey shared and party-wall stacks, chimney breasts and lead flashings, and common reasons people get in touch are loose, cracked or missing pots and worn or missing pointing.
In a smaller place like Pilgrims Hatch, some roofs stand more exposed to wind and rain than in a built-up town. Ridge tiles, verges, chimney stacks and flashings take the worst of it. Checking those edges shows whether anything has begun to work loose. Once one ridge tile or slate moves, wind gets under the next one too.
The report doesn’t just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Place
- Pilgrims Hatch (CM15, CM14)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How we price chimney surveys
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Roof area
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- House, block, shop or office
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
What we need to know
You do not need to know any roofing terms. Just tell us:
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The property’s address and postcode
- The kind of building and roof involved
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or email us and give us a few details about the property and we’ll point you to the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Can I check my roof myself?
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Also near Pilgrims Hatch
What else we do in Pilgrims Hatch
How it works
Safety comes first on every visit. We inspect whatever is safely visible, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. Most visits take an hour or two at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. A visit to Pilgrims Hatch is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed in advance. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Getting ready for the survey
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Check pets are kept safely away
Book a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Common questions in Pilgrims Hatch
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Brentwood station?
Yes, landlords and agents book with us as well as owners. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the building.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Pilgrims Hatch?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Our stack is shared. Can you still survey it?
Yes. Many houses share stacks with a neighbour. We record the stack as far as we can see it and flag anything on the neighbour’s side.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
It depends on its condition and your plans. The survey shows its condition and how it’s been capped. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need consent.
How long will you be at the property?
Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours for a house, and more on a big or complicated roof. The report follows by email.
Do I need to be at home?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
How much does a chimney survey cost in Pilgrims Hatch?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before you book, based on the roof’s size, access and package. To get a price, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Chimney surveys in Pilgrims Hatch: local notes
Historic houses such as Ingatestone Hall, about 4.6 miles north-east, show how far back building in the area around Pilgrims Hatch goes. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. In Essex, older buildings are frequently clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, alongside plenty of post-war and newer estates. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Saint George's church, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Larchwood Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Pilgrims Hatch is about 1 mile north-west of Brentwood, in Essex. We carry out chimney surveys in Pilgrims Hatch for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Pilgrims Hatch is one of the places in Essex we cover. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Here we cover the CM15 and CM14 postcode area for chimney surveys. Streets in the area include Ongar Road, Hatch Road and Green Lane, and we cover them all. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Crow Green (1 mile north), South Weald (1 mile south-west), Coxtie Green (1 mile west), Bentley (1 mile north-west) and Doddinghurst Common (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (11 miles north-east), Basildon (8 miles south-east), Harlow (12 miles north-west), Canvey Island (15 miles south-east), Billericay (6 miles east) and Rayleigh (14 miles east).
Landmarks near Pilgrims Hatch
In Pilgrims Hatch, that means homes and buildings near Black Horse Inn, Sawyers Hall College and Weald Country Park and the streets around them. Pilgrims Hatch’s nearest station is Brentwood station, roughly 1.6 miles south of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Brentwood Community Hospital (1.4 miles south-east). For a walk, there is Thorndon Park.
Leave it or get it looked at?
For a buyer, the best time to learn about a chimney is before exchange. Once you’ve exchanged, the work is down to you. Our report gives you facts to raise with the seller or agent. Around Pilgrims Hatch, leaves and moss in gutters lead to overflowing water and damp walls. It’s easy to sort the cause early and slow to dry a damp wall.
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we will tell you which fits.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Pilgrims Hatch
- A written report with photos
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Surveys seven days a week
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Practical tips
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
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 anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Get small mortar repairs done while they’re small. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.