Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Bromley, Hertfordshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Bromley, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Flaunching that has broken away
How a chimney survey works in Bromley
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. A disused stack still needs looking after. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. We are often asked to look into gaps in the mortar around the pots and spalled or crumbling bricks, across shared and party-wall stacks, chimney breasts and brick chimney stacks.
Somewhere as small as Bromley, homes are frequently 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. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Place
- Bromley (SG11)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Brick stacks
Older brick stacks often have soft lime mortar. We note where repairs should match the original mortar.
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joint between the stack and the roof. The survey looks at whether the lead is tight, sound and well fixed.
Tips that help
Getting the most from a chimney survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare.
Look at your chimneys from the ground now and then, particularly after strong winds. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.
Bromley questions
I let a flat near Bishops Stortford station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the building, including who will give access on the day.
How do I find out if my home in Bromley is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If there is a loft and safe access to it, yes. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
What insurance do you have?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not always. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. We use safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where applicable, and the report records anything we couldn’t see.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Most people never get a close look at their chimney stacks. Defects tend to go unseen until there is a stain. Surveying the stack now can catch problems first. For older village homes like those around Bromley, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
For a price for your roof in Bromley, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us about the roof. We will confirm the figure before booking.
What you get with us
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Packages from £150, including VAT
- Visits on any day of the week
- 20+ years’ experience
Read what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Towns and villages near Bromley
What else we do in Bromley
The survey, step by step
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, take photos as we go and make notes for the report. Most visits take about 1–2 hours for a house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Somewhere like Bromley needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
How to prepare
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Tell us about parking before the day
Getting a price
To get a price for chimney surveys in Bromley, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. A few details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Advice
What a survey costs
When we price a survey, we consider:
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Roof area
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
Getting in touch
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, let us know:
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- The kind of building and roof involved
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Bromley
About 1.4 miles south-east lies Much Hadham Palace, a reminder of how long the area around Bromley has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters. 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. Whatever the covering, it’s often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
If you let a flat or house near Bishops Stortford station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Bromley is about 4 miles west of Bishop's Stortford, in Hertfordshire. We survey roofs in Bromley and the rest of Hertfordshire. Bromley is one of the places in Hertfordshire we cover. For surveys nearby, see our Chelmsford page.
Chimney surveys in SG11 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Other places close to Bromley include Standon (1 mile north-west), Hadham Ford (1 mile east), Much Hadham (1 mile south-east), Puckeridge (2 miles north-west) and Hadham Cross (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Stevenage (10 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (4 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (12 miles south-west), Hitchin (15 miles west), Hoddesdon (9 miles south) and Cheshunt (12 miles south).
Local landmarks in Bromley
We work in homes and buildings around The Fox And Hounds pub and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Bishops Stortford station, about 4.8 miles east. Well-known places in the area include Henry Moore Studios and Gardens (2.8 miles south-east) and Moated mound (2.7 miles north-east).