Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Birchanger
Chimney surveys across Birchanger, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- A chimney out of line
How a chimney survey works in Birchanger
Chimney stacks take more weather than almost any other part of a house. Over the years, the flaunching cracks, the pointing wears and flashings lift. That lets water into the brickwork, which can show up as damp on a chimney breast or in the loft space. We record what we find with photos and recommendations. We are frequently asked to look into flashings pulling away from the stack and frost-damaged brickwork on the stack, across brick chimney stacks, shared and party-wall stacks and flaunching.
In a small place like Birchanger, 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.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Place
- Birchanger (CM23)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photographs included.
Nearby places to Birchanger
Other services in Birchanger
What we are asked to look at in Birchanger
Where a chimney meets the roof, lead flashings keep water out. They can lift in wind, crack with age or pull out of the mortar joints. When flashings fail, water frequently shows up in the loft or on the chimney breast. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
If you look after a building such as Birchwood High School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Before booking anyone
- What follow-up you get after the report
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- What the survey will not cover
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney breasts and the loft
Damp patches on chimney breasts frequently point to a problem above. We check the breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach.
Rendered stacks
A rendered stack can mask problems in the bricks below. The survey checks for cracking, bulging and staining in the render.
What a chimney survey does not cover
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Birchanger
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
FAQs for Birchanger
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Stansted Mountfitchet station?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
How do I find out if my home in Birchanger is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We carry out surveys seven days a week. To find a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Where it’s relevant to the survey and there’s safe access, yes. A clear path to the hatch helps.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. Many houses share stacks with a neighbour. We survey what we can see safely, and note anything that seems to involve next door.
How much is a survey?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Our Basic Survey starts from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all including VAT.
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.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Birchanger
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. Historic houses such as Barrington Hall, about 4.1 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around Birchanger goes. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Landlords with a home close to Stansted Mountfitchet station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Birchanger is about 2 miles north-east of Bishop's Stortford, in Hertfordshire. We survey roofs in Birchanger and the rest of Hertfordshire, as part of our work across London and the South East. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire. Chelmsford is in our area too.
We cover every part of CM23 for chimney surveys. You’ll find streets such as Birchwood, Wood Lane and Harrisons, and we cover them all. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Bishop's Stortford (2 miles south-west), Great Hallingbury (2 miles south), Thorley Street (3 miles south-west), Thorley (3 miles south-west) and Little Hallingbury (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Hoddesdon (13 miles south-west), Hertford (13 miles south-west), Ware (11 miles south-west), Broxbourne (13 miles south-west), Sawbridgeworth (5 miles south) and Buntingford (10 miles north-west).
Near you in Birchanger
Typical jobs here are in homes near Summercroft Primary School and The Three Willows pub, among other places. The closest station to Birchanger is Stansted Mountfitchet station, roughly 1.3 miles north. Other landmarks nearby include Herts and Essex Hospital (1.4 miles south-west) and Moated mound (3.5 miles west). Not far away are Portingbury Hills and Rushy Mead.
What we do, step by step
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll take it from there. A typical survey takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. In a hamlet or village like Birchanger, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can be seen safely.
- Every part we can see is looked at: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach them.
- You get a written report with photographs and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Getting a price
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or email us, let us know about the property and we will explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Advice
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
To price your survey, we check:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- House, block, shop or office
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
Prices start from £150, inc. VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, both with VAT included. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
What we need to know
These details help when you contact us:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- The property’s address and postcode
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or email us, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.