Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Barwick, Hertfordshire
Chimney surveys in Barwick from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and the South East.
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
Chimney survey in Barwick: what you get
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is frequently shared with next door. We check what can be seen safely and what 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. Everything is written up with photos and what we recommend. We survey shared and party-wall stacks, brick chimney stacks and chimney breasts, and the problems we are asked to look at most are spalled or crumbling bricks and a stack that appears to lean.
Village roofs frequently face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
After the visit, you get a report with photographs, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Barwick (SG11)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Chimney surveys in Barwick: local notes
Much Hadham Palace, about 2.9 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Barwick. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Landlords with a home close to Ware station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. If you live in an older home near St Mary's, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Barwick is about 3 miles north-east of Ware, in Hertfordshire. Barwick is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Hertfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Chelmsford is in our area too.
All of SG11 is within our area for chimney surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Colliers End (1 mile north-west), High Cross (1 mile south-west), Standon Green End (2 miles west), Cold Christmas (2 miles south) and Wadesmill (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Stevenage (9 miles north-west), Bishop's Stortford (6 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (9 miles south-west), Harpenden (15 miles west), Hitchin (14 miles north-west) and Hoddesdon (7 miles south).
Local landmarks in Barwick
For rail, the closest station is Ware station, roughly 3.7 miles south-west of the centre. Nearby you will also find Hertford County Hospital (5.8 miles south-west) and Barrowfield (4.5 miles south-west). The countryside around Barwick includes King's Meads.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- How big the roof is
- Which survey package you book
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT, and we’ll tell you which fits.
Helping us price your survey
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- The address and postcode of the property
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
Towns and villages near Barwick
Also in Barwick
Can I check my roof myself?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us as you book.
Barwick: your questions answered
Will you come out to Barwick?
Yes, Barwick is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Ware station?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
There are a few common causes: cracked flaunching, worn pointing, failed flashings, uncapped pots, or damp trapped in an unventilated stack. We check each one and note the most likely cause.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it.
How long does the survey take?
It typically takes an hour or two for a house, and longer for a large or complex roof. We’ll confirm the timing as you book.
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.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Barwick
Letting agents and landlords in Barwick book surveys as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the chimney stack, with photos, useful for planning maintenance.
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, call 07833 053749 or email us.
The survey, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. For a village or hamlet like Barwick, the journey is planned in advance: 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’s safe.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We check 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.
Before we arrive
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Book a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
What we cannot see
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
Why act early in Barwick
Cracked flaunching and worn pointing are often modest repairs when they’re caught early. Leave it, and frost can work the stack loose, and the work grows. For older village homes like those around Barwick, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You’ll know the figure before booking.
What you get with us
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- PI and public liability insurance
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.