Essex · London and the South East
Chickney Gutter Survey
We carry out gutter surveys in Chickney and the rest of Essex. Surveys run on any day of the week.
- Leaves and moss blocking gutters
- Water backing up from a hidden gutter
- Leaking or loose downpipes
Prices for gutter surveys in Chickney
To price your survey, we check:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
To find out what your survey will cost, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the roof. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
Helping us price your survey
A few details help us point you to the right survey and price. When you get in touch, it is useful to mention:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- The kind of building and roof involved
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
How a gutter survey works in Chickney
We check the rainwater system above ground level: gutters, outlets, hoppers, downpipes and overflows. It isn’t a CCTV drain survey, so we cannot see inside underground pipes. Where water seems to be backing up from below ground, we will say so in the report, so you can get the drains checked separately. Problems above ground, from split hoppers to leaking downpipes, are photographed and noted. We survey parapet and box gutters, outlets and hoppers and eaves gutters, and the problems we are asked to look at most are leaks at the gutter joints and blocked outlets and hoppers.
In a small place like Chickney, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Chickney (CM6)
- Wider area
- Essex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Chickney
Is Chickney within the area you cover?
Yes. Chickney is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Is my home in Chickney listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
When is the best time for a gutter survey?
You can book at any time of year. Before the wetter months gives you time to plan any work though problems frequently show up after heavy rain.
Do you test soffits or gutters for asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos testing. If rainwater goods or soffits look like they could contain asbestos, we note it so a specialist asbestos surveyor can check before any work.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If there’s a loft and safe access to it, yes. The roof space can show things the outside can’t, such as damp timbers, staining or daylight.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
How it works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a report with photos. As for time on site, most surveys take an hour or two at most homes, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. In a hamlet or village like Chickney, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- First, we agree the areas to focus on.
- We look along each run for debris, sagging and drips.
- Outlets, hoppers, downpipes and overflows are inspected.
- Fascias, soffits and the walls below are looked at for signs of overflow.
- Findings are photographed and set out in a written report.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Book a survey
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
Read more
Tips from our surveys
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Watch ceilings under valley gutters for fresh marks
- Do not climb a ladder to look in the gutters
- Have overhanging branches cut back
- Look for downpipes coming loose
After any work is done, watch the gutters in the next heavy rain. Rain should flow to the outlets and down the downpipes, and if it does not, raise it with whoever did the job.
Do not forget valley, parapet and box gutters. They block in the same way as the gutters you can see but you can’t check them from the street, so check they’re included in any clearing work.
Why it is worth a survey now in Chickney
It is easy to put damp down to the wrong cause. When rainwater goods are the source, treating the wall alone will not solve it. Checking the gutters first helps you spend in the right place. Older and listed buildings around Chickney may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, with VAT included, and we will tell you which fits.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Chickney
- 20+ years’ experience
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- 98% of customers satisfied
- A written report with photographs
Read what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
Towns and villages near Chickney
Other services in Chickney
What this survey can’t tell you
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- What’s behind fascias and inside walls
- Confirming asbestos in older rainwater goods
- Parts of gutters that cannot be seen safely
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Parapet and box gutters
- Downpipes
- Fascias and soffits
- Eaves gutters
- Outlets and hoppers
- Valley gutters
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photos included.
What a gutter survey looks like in Chickney
Clay tiles and timber weatherboarding mark out many of the older buildings in Essex, while many towns grew with post-war and newer estates. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. With Horham Hall about 1.7 miles north, Chickney sits in an area with a long building history. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary the Virgin, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. Landlords with a home close to Stansted Airport station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Chickney is about 4 miles north-west of Great Dunmow, in Essex. We carry out gutter surveys in Chickney for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Across Essex, we cover Chickney. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Gutter surveys in CM6 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Other places close to Chickney include Tilty (1 mile east), Duton Hill (1 mile east), Great Easton (2 miles south-east), Monk Street (2 miles north-east) and Sibley's Green (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Chelmsford (15 miles south-east), Braintree (11 miles east), Harlow (13 miles south-west), Saffron Walden (8 miles north), Halstead (14 miles east) and Great Dunmow (4 miles south-east).
Around Chickney
The closest station to Chickney is Stansted Airport station, roughly 2.5 miles south-west. A little further out are Little Easton Moat (2.4 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Portingbury Hills and Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve.