Essex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Sheering
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Sheering and the rest of Essex. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- A stack that appears to lean
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Worn or missing pointing
How a chimney survey works in Sheering
Redundant chimneys are common, especially where fires have been replaced by central heating. A disused stack still needs looking after. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. Common reasons to book are damp on a chimney breast inside and flaunching that has broken away, across flaunching, brick chimney stacks and chimney breasts.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Place
- Sheering (CM22)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
With a shared stack, the report can help when talking to next door. The photos show the problem and which side it is on, as far as we could see.
Check your stacks from the street or garden after a storm. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.
Common questions in Sheering
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Sheering?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is Sheering within the area you cover?
Yes. Sheering is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
What do you check on a chimney?
The survey covers the pots and cowls, the flaunching, the pointing, the bricks and the flashings. We also check chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach. Everything is written up with photos.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. If it is capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. We check how it is capped and its condition, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
How do I arrange a chimney survey in Sheering?
The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Tell us the address and a little about the roof, and we will suggest the right survey. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. Photographs are taken throughout the survey, and the report uses them to show each finding alongside our recommendations.
Nearby places to Sheering
Also in Sheering
How we price chimney surveys
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The size of the roof
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
Every price we give includes VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the exact price before you book.
Getting in touch
You do not need to know any roofing terms. Just tell us:
- What’s prompted the survey
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- When you need the report by
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
What we look for on each type of roof
Brick stacks
Brick stacks rely on sound pointing to keep water out. The survey looks for crumbling bricks and worn or missing mortar.
Lead flashings
Flashings can lift in wind or pull out of their mortar joints. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Sheering
Older buildings in Essex frequently have clay tiles and weatherboarding, and plenty of post-war and modern estates besides. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. Barrington Hall, about 3.5 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Sheering. If you own one of the older houses, 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.
Trees in and around Gibberd Garden shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters. Take a building like Hatfield Heath Primary School: its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Sheering is about 4 miles north-east of Harlow, in Essex. From houses to flats and shops in Sheering, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Across Essex, we cover Sheering. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in CM22 is covered for chimney surveys. Local streets include The Street, High Pastures and The Plashets, and we cover them all. We also cover the places around Sheering: Lower Sheering (1 mile west), Sawbridgeworth (2 miles west), Gaston Green (2 miles north), Little Hallingbury (2 miles north) and Spellbrook (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (14 miles east), Harlow (4 miles south-west), Brentwood (13 miles south-east), Loughton (12 miles south-west), Saffron Walden (15 miles north) and Waltham Abbey (11 miles south-west).
What’s near Sheering
In Sheering, that means homes and buildings near The Crown Inn, Gibberd Garden and Leventhorpe and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Sawbridgeworth station, about 1.2 miles north-west. A little further out are Harlow Mill (2.6 miles west) and Herts and Essex Hospital (4.3 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Portingbury Hills and Sawbridgeworth Marsh.
The survey, step by step
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: outside views come first, then the loft space if there’s safe access. All told, expect about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. In a hamlet or village like Sheering, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Preparing for the visit
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Book a survey
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Can I check my roof myself?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
Signs you need a chimney survey in Sheering
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Mortar can deteriorate unevenly from flue gases and moisture, which can make a stack lean.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Mortar washing out of the joints
Landlords with a home close to Sawbridgeworth station may find that a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Before you book anyone
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Is VAT included in the price?