Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Apsley End Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys in Apsley End and the rest of Hertfordshire. We survey seven days a week.
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
How it works
You don’t need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes between one and two hours on an ordinary house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Older rural homes like those around Apsley End can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- 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.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before we arrive
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Booking a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
How a chimney survey works in Apsley End
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is often shared with next door. 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 and you can then discuss it with them. Everything is written up with photos and our recommendations. If you’ve noticed damaged chimney pots and cowls and damp on a chimney breast inside, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on chimney breasts, shared and party-wall stacks and brick chimney stacks alike.
Somewhere as small as Apsley End, 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 normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Where
- Apsley End (SG5)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Apsley End homes and their roofs
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so check with the council.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Shillington Lower School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Apsley End is about 5 miles north-west of Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. From houses to flats and shops in Apsley End, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Apsley End is one of the places in Hertfordshire we cover for chimney surveys. We also survey roofs in Milton Keynes.
Surveys in SG5 are booked the same way as anywhere else. You will find streets such as Hanscombe End Road, Sandy Heath Close and Chalkley Bush Close. Other places close to Apsley End include Hanscombe End (1 mile north), Shillington (1 mile north-east), Hexton (2 miles south-west), Pegsdon (2 miles south) and Pirton (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Stevenage (10 miles south-east), Welwyn Garden City (15 miles south-east), Harpenden (12 miles south), Hitchin (5 miles south-east), Letchworth (6 miles east) and Letchworth Garden City (6 miles east).
What’s near Apsley End
Around Apsley End, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Musgrave Arms Shillington. Other landmarks nearby include Keech Hospice Care (5 miles south-west) and Stondon Motor Museum (2.6 miles north-east). Open spaces near Apsley End include Cain Hill and Pegsdon Hills.
Do you need a chimney survey in Apsley End?
Many chimneys are no longer used. If a stack is capped or blocked without ventilation, moisture can build up inside. Damp patches can appear on chimney breasts even when nothing is leaking.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Worn or missing pointing
- A chimney out of line
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
If you live in an older home near Church of All Saints, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Before you book anyone
- What exactly goes into their report
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
Your questions about chimney surveys in Apsley End
Is Apsley End within the area you cover?
Yes. Apsley End is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Apsley End?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
How long is the visit?
Time on site depends on the roof; most visits take between one and two hours at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain is typically fine; heavy rain and wind are different. Strong wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, so we’d move the date with you.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
What happens next?
The report arrives by email, with photos and clear recommendations. With Standard there is a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Are you insured?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, with the most urgent items set out first.
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.
Towns and villages near Apsley End
What else we do in Apsley End
Why act early in Apsley End
If a stack seems to lean, don’t leave it. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you know where you stand. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Apsley End, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Why book us in Apsley End
- Visits on any day of the week
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- 20+ years’ experience
See what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
What this survey can’t tell you
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Conditions inside walls
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll suggest the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
Prices for chimney surveys in Apsley End
When we price a survey, we consider:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- How big the roof is
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and the package you choose.
Booking your survey
There is no need for technical words. Just tell us:
- Anything about access we should know
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.