Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Broxbourne
Independent chimney surveys in Broxbourne. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Flaunching that has broken away
- A stack that appears to lean
Chimney survey in Broxbourne
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We inspect the parts we can see safely and the parts the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it, so you can talk to them. You get a written report with photographs and our recommendations. If you’ve noticed damp on a chimney breast inside and a chimney out of line, we can find out what’s behind it, on lead flashings, brick chimney stacks and chimney pots and cowls alike.
In a smaller place like Broxbourne, homes range from older cottages to bungalows and newer houses. Older roofs can have slate, clay tiles or other traditional coverings, while many later ones have concrete tiles. On older homes, chimney stacks, valleys and gutters are usually where the work is, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. Nails and battens under older coverings often give out before the slates or tiles themselves.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Broxbourne (EN10, EN11)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Flaunching
Flaunching is the mortar on top of a stack that holds the pots and sheds water. Once it cracks, water can get straight into the brickwork.
Chimney breasts and the loft
If a chimney breast has been removed below, we note what we can see of the support above. A structural engineer should confirm whether it is adequate.
What a chimney survey looks like in Broxbourne
Older houses in the South East frequently have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Whatever the covering, it is frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. If your 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, so check with the council.
Anyone responsible for a site like Sheredes Primary School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle. If you own a rental within reach of Broxbourne station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Broxbourne is about 6 miles west of Harlow, in Hertfordshire. We carry out chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Broxbourne and nearby. We cover towns and villages across Hertfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. London is in our area too.
Every address in EN10 and EN11 is covered for chimney surveys. You’ll find streets like New Road, Cock Lane and Bell Lane, and we cover them all. Broxbourne sits on or near the A10 and A1170. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Hoddesdon (1 mile north-east), High Leigh (1 mile north), Wormley (1 mile south), Goose Green (1 mile north-west) and Woollensbrook (1 mile north). We also work in nearby towns like Stevenage (13 miles north-west), St Albans (13 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (11 miles north-east), Welwyn Garden City (8 miles north-west), Harpenden (15 miles west) and Cheshunt (3 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Broxbourne
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Golden Lion Inn, Barclay Park and Sheredes School. Broxbourne’s nearest station is Broxbourne station, about 0.5 miles east of the centre. A little further out are Barrowfield (3.7 miles north) and Lowewood Museum (0.5 miles north-east). Not far away are Cheshunt Lake and Danemead.
Honest limits
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
Broxbourne questions
How do I find out if my home in Broxbourne is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you cover smaller places like Broxbourne?
Yes, Broxbourne is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Our stack is shared. Can you still survey it?
Yes. Shared stacks are common on terraced and semi-detached houses. We record the stack as far as we can see it and flag anything on the neighbour’s side.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
How much does a chimney survey cost in Broxbourne?
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose, confirmed before anything is booked.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you when booking.
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 suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
Practical tips
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
Questions about the findings are always welcome. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.
Common roof problems in Broxbourne
Aerials and dishes are often fixed to stacks. Their weight and the wind on them can loosen bricks and pointing. Any fixings on the stack are checked and recorded.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed one of these:
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
Living close to Barclay Park is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Will the report include photos?
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
What a survey costs
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Booking your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
To arrange a survey, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
The survey, step by step
We will ask a few questions first, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes about 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. In a smaller place like Broxbourne, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: drone flights and thermal imaging need the right conditions, while a look from the ground and the loft can go ahead in most weather.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Book a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.