Essex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Writtle
We take a careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Writtle, with photographs and a written report.
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
How a chimney survey works in Writtle
We inspect chimneys from wherever they can be seen safely: from ground level, from windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there’s access. With our Premium Survey, a drone inspection is included where applicable. Where part of a stack cannot be seen, the report says so. Every defect we find is photographed and described in plain words. We’re often asked to look into lifted or split lead flashings and flaunching that has broken away, on chimney breasts, lead flashings and shared and party-wall stacks.
In a smaller place like Writtle, some roofs stand more exposed to wind and rain than in a built-up town. Ridge tiles, verges, chimney stacks and flashings take the worst of it. Checking those edges shows whether anything has begun to work loose before it lets water in. Once one ridge tile or slate moves, wind gets under the next one too.
What you get is a clear record of the chimney stack on the day we saw it. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Place
- Writtle (CM1)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely. The survey normally takes about 1–2 hours for a house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. For a survey in Writtle, we agree the time, the access and parking before the day. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. Tell us about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We check the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Preparing for the visit
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Jot down any questions you want answered
How to book
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Related advice
What a chimney survey looks like in Writtle
About 1.4 miles south-east lies Hylands, a reminder of how long the area around Writtle has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, and lots of post-war and modern estates besides. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Living close to Central Park is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall. Take an older house close to Church of All Saints: corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. Take a building like Writtle Infant School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Writtle is about 3 miles west of Chelmsford, in Essex. Bookings from Writtle are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Writtle is one of the towns and villages in Essex where we work.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: CM1. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Millfields, Well Field and Little Meadow and the roads around them. Other places close to Writtle include Widford (2 miles south-east), Moulsham (2 miles east), Chignall St James (2 miles north), Patching (2 miles north-east) and Chelmsford (3 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Basildon (11 miles south), Braintree (12 miles north-east), Harlow (13 miles west), Brentwood (9 miles south-west), Maldon (11 miles east) and Billericay (7 miles south).
Near you in Writtle
Around Writtle, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Rose And Crown Public House, Hylands School and Central Park, among other places. The closest station to Writtle is Chelmsford station, roughly 2.1 miles east. Nearby you’ll also find Peter Edwards Museum And Library (2 miles east) and Bond Street Chelmsford (2.4 miles east). For a walk, there is Newland Grove.
Common questions in Writtle
Will you come out to Writtle?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Chelmsford station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just phone 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the building, including who will give access on the day.
How long does the survey take?
It normally takes between one and two hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. The written report follows by email.
What if it rains on the day?
A survey can normally go ahead in light rain. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
What happens next?
You receive the written report by email, with photographs and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
What’s in the report?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, with photographs throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely.
Our stack is shared. Can you still survey it?
Yes. Shared stacks are common on terraced and semi-detached houses. We survey what we can see safely, and note anything that seems to involve next door.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Writtle
If you are buying, find out about the stacks before you exchange. After that, any work is yours to arrange and pay for. A report gives you something specific to put to the seller. In an older home around Writtle, water from a roof defect can get into timber and plaster, which is far harder to put right than the roof fault itself.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can safely be seen and which survey you book.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Writtle
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Over 20 years’ experience
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Every finding written up with photos
Read our cost guide and our case studies.
Checking the roof from ground level
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Places near Writtle
What else we do in Writtle
Honest limits
Before booking, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
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 our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Writtle
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
Tips from our surveys
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
If anything in the report isn’t clear, just ask us. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one.
Make sure redundant flues are capped with ventilation. That helps stop damp building up inside.