Essex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Willows Green, Essex
Wondering about the chimney stack at a property in Willows Green? You can book a chimney survey in Willows Green and across Essex.
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- A stack that appears to lean
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
About our chimney survey in Willows Green
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We inspect the parts we can see safely and the parts the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it, so you can talk to them. You get a written report with photographs and what we recommend. We survey flaunching, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney breasts, and people most often book us about frost-damaged brickwork on the stack and staining on walls around the chimney.
Somewhere as small as Willows Green, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it is normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Where
- Willows Green (CM3)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. The survey typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. In a small place like Willows Green, access is normally the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
How to prepare
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Getting a price
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before booking.
Related advice
What affects the price in Willows Green
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- House, block, shop or office
- Building height and the viewpoints available
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Helping us price your survey
There’s no need for technical words. It’s enough to let us know:
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Where the property is, with the postcode
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know the cost up front. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Willows Green questions
Do you cover smaller places like Willows Green?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
Can a landlord with a rental near Braintree station book a roof survey?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
What do I do with the report?
We email you the written report with photos and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Will you check the loft?
Typically, if there’s one and it can be reached safely. From inside, the underside of the roof frequently shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
Brick stacks
Many older stacks were built with lime mortar. Repairs should suit the original materials, which we mention where relevant.
Towns and villages near Willows Green
Also in Willows Green
Tips from our surveys
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
If anything in the report is not clear, just ask us. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Get small mortar repairs done while they’re small. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
What happens if roof problems are left?
For a buyer, the best time to learn about a chimney is before exchange. After that, any work is yours to arrange and pay for. Our report gives you facts to raise with the seller or agent. In a small place like Willows Green, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
For a price for your roof in Willows Green, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why us?
- Visits on any day of the week
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- An independent view of the roof
Take a look at our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
Chimney surveys in Willows Green: local notes
Weatherboarded walls and clay tile roofs are typical of older Essex buildings, and plenty of post-war and modern estates besides. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list.
If you let a flat or house near Braintree station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. Living close to Cuckoo Wood is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Willows Green is about 4 miles south-west of Braintree, in Essex. We visit Willows Green as part of our work across Essex, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Our area takes in places right across Essex. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
We work across CM3 for chimney surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Main Road and Evelyn Road and the roads around them. Other places close to Willows Green include Bannister Green (2 miles north-west), Little Leighs (2 miles south), Watch House Green (2 miles north-west), Blake End (2 miles north-west) and Causeway End (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (8 miles south), Braintree (4 miles north-east), Maldon (11 miles south-east), Witham (7 miles south-east), Halstead (9 miles north-east) and Great Dunmow (6 miles west).
Around Willows Green
We work in homes and buildings around Cuckoo Wood. The nearest railway station is Braintree station, about 3.1 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Tudor House Museum (Braintree) (3.7 miles north-east) and William Julien Courtauld Hospital (2.7 miles north-east). Open spaces near Willows Green include Phyllis Currie Nature Reserve.
When you need someone else
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks