Essex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Shotgate
Know where you stand with the chimney stack before you decide what to do next. We carry out chimney surveys in Shotgate.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
What happens if roof problems are left?
A leaning stack should be looked at sooner rather than later. Our survey records it and says when a structural engineer should look at it, so you know where you stand. For an older or listed building in a place like Shotgate, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
What you get with us
- Surveys seven days a week
- An independent look at the roof
- Prices that include VAT
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
How a chimney survey works in Shotgate
If you’re buying a home with chimneys, it is worth knowing their condition before you exchange. On older stacks, we often find cracked flaunching, loose flashings and worn pointing. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. Typical surveys look at gaps in the mortar around the pots and damp on a chimney breast inside, across flaunching, chimney pots and cowls and lead flashings.
Older buildings in small places like Shotgate may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Shotgate (SS11, SS12)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Rendered stacks
Cracked render can let water in and trap it behind. We record any cracking and where it is.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Stains on timbers or brickwork around the stack can point to a leak. We record what we see with photographs.
When you need someone else
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Shotgate
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
Shotgate: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Shotgate?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is Shotgate within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
What should I do with a chimney I don’t use?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. If it’s capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. Our survey records its condition and how it is capped, so you can plan what to do with it.
How much does a chimney survey cost in Shotgate?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, inc. VAT.
What happens after the survey?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you when booking.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Shotgate
Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, and plenty of post-war and modern estates besides. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. 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. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
If you let a flat or house near Battlesbridge station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. If you look after a building such as Beauchamps High School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Nicholas, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Shotgate is about 1 mile east of Wickford, in Essex. In Shotgate, as across Essex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our Essex coverage includes Shotgate and the places around it. Chelmsford is in our area too.
All of SS11 and SS12 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Third Avenue, First Avenue and Second Avenue or anywhere close by, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Rawreth (1 mile east), Wickford (1 mile west), Battlesbridge (1 mile north-east), Runwell (2 miles north-west) and Brock Hill (3 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Chelmsford (9 miles north), Basildon (5 miles south-west), Brentwood (11 miles west), Maldon (10 miles north-east), Canvey Island (6 miles south) and Billericay (6 miles west).
What’s near Shotgate
We work in homes and buildings around Hilltop Infant School and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Battlesbridge station, about 1.3 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Basildon University Hospital (5.5 miles south-west) and Battlesbridge Motorcycle Museum (1.3 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Shotgate Thickets.
Nearby places to Shotgate
What else we do in Shotgate
What affects the price in Shotgate
We confirm the price for the job before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Height and safe access
For a price for your roof in Shotgate, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
What to let us know when you contact us
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- What kind of property and roof it is
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
The survey, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the chimney stack as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It usually takes between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Cottages and farmhouses around Shotgate often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We check every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Getting ready for the survey
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Keep pets in another room
Getting a price
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and give us some details about the property and we’ll point you to the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Advice
For landlords and managing agents
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
Letting agents and landlords in Shotgate book surveys as well as homeowners. A written report with photographs gives you a clear record of the chimney stack, which helps you plan work between tenancies.