Essex · London and the South East
Runwell Chimney Survey
An experienced roof surveyor for chimney surveys in Runwell. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Bricks with flaking faces
About our chimney survey in Runwell
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We check everything that’s safely in view and what the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it and you can then discuss it with them. You get a report with photos and our recommendations. Typical surveys look at lifted or split lead flashings and cracked or missing flaunching, on chimney pots and cowls, flaunching and shared and party-wall stacks.
Houses in smaller places like Runwell can face open ground, where wind and driving rain hit the roof harder. That weather tells first on ridges, verges, chimneys and flashings. 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.
Where we can’t see part of the chimney stack, the report says so. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Runwell (SS11)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Why get it checked now?
Chimneys are easy to forget because you rarely see the top of them. Defects tend to go unseen until there’s a stain. Surveying the stack now can catch problems first. Blocked gutters on homes around Runwell overflow and soak walls. It is easy to sort the cause early and slow to dry a damp wall.
For a price for your roof in Runwell, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why us?
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- An independent look at the roof
See how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Also near Runwell
Also in Runwell
What affects the price in Runwell
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The size of the roof
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
Every price we give includes VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
Helping us price your survey
We will normally ask about:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Anything about access we should know
- What made you get in touch
- The property’s address and postcode
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window. To get started, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
What you can safely check yourself
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
Chimney surveys in Runwell: local notes
An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent. Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. If you own a rental within reach of Wickford station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Runwell is about 1 mile north of Wickford, in Essex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Runwell can all book chimney surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. We cover towns and villages across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
All of SS11 is within our area for chimney surveys. Local streets include Church End Lane, Viking Way and Canewdon Gardens. If you’re just outside Runwell, we cover Wickford (1 mile south), Brock Hill (1 mile north-west), Shotgate (2 miles south-east), Battlesbridge (2 miles east) and South Hanningfield (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Chelmsford (8 miles north), Basildon (5 miles south-west), Brentwood (9 miles west), Maldon (10 miles north-east), Canvey Island (7 miles south) and Billericay (4 miles west).
Landmarks near Runwell
Around Runwell, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Beauchamps High School and Quart Pot pub and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Wickford station, roughly 0.7 miles south-west. Well-known places in the area include Rayleigh Castle (4.2 miles south-east) and Battlesbridge Motorcycle Museum (1.9 miles east). Not far away are Shotgate Thickets.
What happens on the day
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs, sent to you by email. As for time on site, it typically takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. For a survey in Runwell, we agree the time, the access and parking before the day. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- The stacks are looked at from ground level, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the loft space where we can reach them.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
Before the survey
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Book a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
Common roof problems in Runwell
The flaunching on top of a stack holds the pots in place and sheds water. Once it cracks, water gets in and frost makes the cracks bigger. Loose pots can follow.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Flaunching that has broken away
Take a building like Runwell Community Primary School: long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Their insurance cover
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Questions from Runwell
Can a landlord with a rental near Wickford station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and agents book with us as well as owners. Just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us about the building, including who will give access on the day.
Is Runwell within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
What does the report include?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos, finishing with recommendations. Points are put in order of urgency where relevant.
What if it rains on the day?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, so it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. It isn’t a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
What we look for on each type of roof
Flaunching
Sitting at the very top, flaunching is fully exposed. The survey checks for cracking and gaps around each pot.
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joint between the stack and the roof. We check for lifting, splits and gaps in the joints.