Essex · London and the South East
Start Hill Chimney Survey
Need a chimney survey in Start Hill? We can help, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
Chimney survey in Start Hill
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. If you are worried about damaged chimney pots and cowls and a chimney out of line, we can find out what’s behind it, on lead flashings, chimney breasts and shared and party-wall stacks alike.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are frequently where weather gets in first.
The written findings come 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.
- Where
- Start Hill (CM22)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
The visit has one job: to look at the chimney stack as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photographs go into the written report. The visit normally takes about 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Around Start Hill, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Preparing for the visit
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Let us know about parking near the property
Book a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
Start Hill questions
Is Start Hill within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Bishops Stortford station?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. You can call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you need, and we will talk through which survey suits.
My chimney looks like it’s leaning. What should I do?
It is worth having a leaning stack checked. Our survey notes how it looks and the condition of the bricks and joints, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We will talk about access when booking.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
How much is a survey?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for the job before booking, and it depends on the roof’s size, access and the package you choose. For a price, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
What if it rains on the day?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drones cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. Caught early, it’s often a small job.
Start Hill homes and their roofs
Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. Barrington Hall, about 2.8 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Start Hill. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Take a building like Birchwood High School: its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale. If you let a flat or house near Bishops Stortford station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Start Hill is about 2 miles east of Bishop's Stortford, in Essex. Surveys in Start Hill work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. Across Essex, we cover Start Hill and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Every address in CM22 is within our area for chimney surveys. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Start Hill and Provenance Close and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Start Hill: Bedlar's Green (1 mile south), Takeley Street (2 miles east), Burton End (2 miles north), Takeley (2 miles east) and Smith's Green (3 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Chelmsford (15 miles south-east), Braintree (15 miles east), Harlow (8 miles south-west), Saffron Walden (11 miles north), Waltham Abbey (15 miles south-west) and Great Dunmow (6 miles east).
Around Start Hill
Around Start Hill, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Three Willows pub and the streets around them. Start Hill’s nearest station is Bishops Stortford station, roughly 1.9 miles west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find House On The Hill Toy Museum (2.4 miles north) and Moated mound (4.5 miles west). For a walk, there’s Portingbury Hills and Rushy Mead.
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
Questions about the findings are always welcome. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
Places near Start Hill
Other services in Start Hill
Surveys for landlords and agents in Start Hill
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Start Hill. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the chimney stack, with photos.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Leave it or get it looked at?
If a stack seems to lean, don’t leave it. Our survey records it and says when a structural engineer should look at it, so you can decide what to do next. For older village homes like those around Start Hill, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
What you get with us
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Packages from £150, including VAT
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- An independent view of the roof
Read how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.