Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Brent Pelham
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? We carry out chimney surveys in Brent Pelham and across Hertfordshire.
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Cracked or missing flaunching
How we price chimney surveys
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- How big the roof is
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
What we need to know
There is no need for technical words. Just let us know:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- The address and postcode of the property
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Chimney survey in Brent Pelham
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. Water then gets into the stack and can show as damp on a chimney breast or a stain in the loft. We record what we find with photographs and recommendations. Typical surveys look at flashings pulling away from the stack and damp on a chimney breast inside, on brick chimney stacks, flaunching and chimney pots and cowls.
Somewhere as small as Brent Pelham, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Place
- Brent Pelham (SG9)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Chimney surveys around Brent Pelham
There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. 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 the council is the place to ask. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
Around Brent Pelham, as everywhere, small roof faults are simplest to sort before they let water in.
Brent Pelham is about 7 miles north-west of Bishop's Stortford, in Hertfordshire. We carry out chimney surveys in Brent Pelham for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Brent Pelham is one of the places in Hertfordshire where we work. Chelmsford is in our area too.
We work across the SG9 postcode area for chimney surveys. Whether your property is on Pump Hill and The Causeway or a nearby road, we can survey it. You’ll find Brent Pelham on the B1038, so it is easy for us to get to. Other places close to Brent Pelham include Furneux Pelham (2 miles south), Great Hormead (2 miles west), Daw's End (2 miles north-west), Anstey (2 miles north-west) and Lower Green (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns like Stevenage (12 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (7 miles south-east), Hitchin (15 miles west), Hoddesdon (15 miles south), Hertford (13 miles south-west) and Letchworth (13 miles west).
Around Brent Pelham
In Brent Pelham, that means homes and buildings near The Black Horse Public House, among other places. Other landmarks nearby include Anstey Hales Farm (2 miles north-west).
The survey, step by step
We will ask a few questions first, like when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Around Brent Pelham, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Getting ready for the survey
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Booking a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Advice
Practical tips
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Check unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
DIY checks: what’s safe
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.
When to book a survey in Brent Pelham
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We note what’s visible in the roof space and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
What to check before booking
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Their report turnaround times
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- What follow-up you get after the report
Also near Brent Pelham
Also in Brent Pelham
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Conditions inside walls
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey. What our survey covers.
What we look at
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
Common questions in Brent Pelham
Is Brent Pelham in the area you cover?
Yes, Brent Pelham is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs.
Is Brent Pelham within the area you cover?
Yes. Brent Pelham 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 booking.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it doesn’t include calculations. We will recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys run on any day of the week. To find a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
It can come from several places: water getting in at the top, through the brickwork or at the flashings, or moisture trapped in a stack with no ventilation. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause.
How soon will I get the report?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. Each one is emailed, ready to forward.