Essex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Upshire, Essex
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Upshire and the rest of Essex. We survey on any day of the week.
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Worn or missing pointing
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
How the survey works
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Somewhere like Upshire needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- 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
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Book a survey
We confirm the price for your roof before booking, so you know the cost up front. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
How a chimney survey works in Upshire
A chimney survey looks at the stack and everything around it: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and the flashings at the roof line. We also look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. The findings come in a written report with photos and recommendations. We survey single stacks on houses and groups of stacks on bigger buildings. We survey brick chimney stacks, lead flashings and flaunching, and common reasons people get in touch are pots or cowls that look unsafe and a stack that appears to lean.
Somewhere as small as Upshire, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it’s typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, sent by email. It explains the condition of the chimney stack, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Upshire (EN9)
- Region
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Upshire questions
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Cheshunt station?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or email us with the details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Upshire?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
What if it rains on the day?
It can, depending on the survey. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions are not right, we’ll talk to you about another date.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. We look at the parts we can see safely and the parts you can give us access to. Where a problem appears to be on next door’s side, we note it and you can raise it with them.
How much does a chimney survey cost in Upshire?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. Our survey covers the outside of the stack and the roof around it. For the flue, you will need a sweep or, for gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Upshire
Most people never get a proper look at their chimney stacks. Problems often go unnoticed until damp appears inside. Surveying the stack now can catch problems first. For older village homes like those around Upshire, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why book with us
- Prices that include VAT
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
Read what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Do you need a chimney survey in Upshire?
Many chimneys are no longer used. A stack sealed without ventilation can trap damp. Damp patches can appear on chimney breasts even when nothing is leaking.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Bricks with flaking faces
Anyone responsible for a site like Upshire Primary Foundation School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Before booking anyone
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- Their insurance cover
Should I look at the roof myself first?
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
What a chimney survey looks like in Upshire
In Essex, older buildings are often clay-tiled, many with weatherboarding, alongside a good many post-war and newer estates. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. About 4.7 miles east lies Hill Hall, a reminder of how long the area around Upshire has been built on. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Landlords with a home close to Cheshunt station may find that a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. If you live in an older home near Church of St Thomas, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Upshire is about 2 miles east of Waltham Abbey, in Essex. Wherever you are in Upshire, we can carry out chimney surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our area takes in places right across Essex, from the larger towns to small villages. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
We work across EN9 for chimney surveys. Other places close to Upshire include Waltham Abbey (2 miles west), High Beech (2 miles south), Debden Green (2 miles south-east), Theydon Bois (3 miles south-east) and Sewardstone (3 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Harlow (6 miles north-east), Brentwood (12 miles east), Loughton (3 miles south), Epping (3 miles east), Harold Wood (10 miles south-east) and Buckhurst Hill (4 miles south).
Local landmarks in Upshire
Typical jobs here are in homes near King Harold Business & Enterprise Academy and The Woodbine pub, among other places. Upshire’s nearest station is Cheshunt station, about 3.1 miles west. Nearby you’ll also find St. Margaret's Hospital (3.5 miles east) and Epping Signalling Museum (2.9 miles east). For a walk, there is Home Mead and Lippitts Hill.
Useful tips for Upshire property owners
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Make sure fixings on the stack are secure
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer or builder. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Check your stacks from the street or garden after a storm. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.
More services for Upshire
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Roof area
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, from £400 with VAT included. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Helping us price your survey
You do not need to know any roofing terms. It’s enough to let us know:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The kind of building and roof involved
If you are buying, it’s useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.