Essex · London and the South East
Rowhedge Chimney Survey
We carry out chimney surveys in Rowhedge and the rest of Essex. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- A stack that appears to lean
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Rowhedge
A chimney stands up above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Over the years, the flaunching cracks, the pointing wears and flashings lift. That lets water into the brickwork, which can show up as damp on a chimney breast or in the loft space. We record what we find with photos and recommendations. Common reasons to book are frost-damaged brickwork on the stack and staining on walls around the chimney, across flaunching, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney pots and cowls.
Trees around homes in smaller places like Rowhedge drop leaves, twigs and moss onto roofs and into gutters. Once gutters and outlets block, water spills over and soaks the walls. A report spots that kind of slow problem before it becomes damp inside. Moss on the roof and weeds in the gutter are both easy to spot from ground level.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible.
- Place
- Rowhedge (CO5)
- Region
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Parking around Rowhedge is typically easier than in a town centre, but mention lanes, gates or long drives. On bungalows and lower roofs, much can be seen from ground level, with the loft showing the underside, while taller roofs may need other vantage points or the drone where it applies.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
How to prepare
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Check pets are kept safely away
How to book
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Nearby places to Rowhedge
What else we do in Rowhedge
Questions from Rowhedge
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Rowhedge, take more of a battering?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Is Rowhedge within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
What insurance do you have?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Will you check the loft?
Where it is relevant to the survey and there’s safe access, yes. A clear path to the hatch helps, and if the loft can’t be reached safely, the report says so.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but we don’t provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. If one is needed, the report says so.
How soon will I get the report?
Report times are set by the package. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, let us know when you book.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
How we price chimney surveys
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
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.
Helping us price your survey
We will normally ask about:
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- The property’s address and postcode
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Different roofs, different checks
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. Any spalling is noted with photos.
Chimney pots and cowls
For unused flues, we check whether caps or cowls allow ventilation. Poor capping can lead to damp inside the stack.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Rowhedge
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
Can I check my roof myself?
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: 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.
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Chimney surveys around Rowhedge
Rowhedge is within about 2 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, alongside plenty of post-war and newer estates. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near Lion Walk, a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions. If you look after a building like St Lawrence Church of England Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Lawrence, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Rowhedge is about 3 miles south-east of Colchester, in Essex. Rowhedge is part of the area we cover across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
Chimney surveys in CO5 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We cover properties on High Street, Church Street and Regent Street. We also cover East Donyland (1 mile south), Wivenhoe Quay (1 mile east), Wivenhoe (1 mile north-east), High Park Corner (1 mile south-east) and Wivenhoe Cross (1 mile north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Colchester (3 miles north-west), Clacton-on-Sea (9 miles south-east), Maldon (14 miles south-west), Witham (14 miles west), Harwich (14 miles east) and Camulodunum (4 miles north-west).
What’s near Rowhedge
We work in homes and buildings around Colne Local Nature Reserve, Donyland Lodge and Thomas Lord Audley School and Language College and the streets around them. Rowhedge has its own railway station: Wivenhoe station. Other landmarks nearby include Colchester Castle (3 miles north-west) and Wivenhoe Chapel Museum (0.8 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Cockaynes Wood.
What we cannot see
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks