Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Bulstrode Chimney Survey
We take a careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Bulstrode, and put it all in a report with photos.
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
Can I check my roof myself?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
It is useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Bulstrode
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. Common reasons to book are worn or missing pointing and gaps where the stack meets the roof, on shared and party-wall stacks, lead flashings and chimney pots and cowls.
Older buildings in small places like Bulstrode may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is frequently expected.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Bulstrode (HP3)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
A survey is a proper look at the chimney stack, but it can’t do everything. Its limits include:
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
Leave it or get it looked at?
For a buyer, the best time to learn about a chimney is before exchange. Once you’ve exchanged, the work is down to you. A report gives you something specific to put to the seller. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Bulstrode, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before you book.
Why book with us
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Every finding written up with photos
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
What happens on the day
We check the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey normally takes an hour or two for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Somewhere like Bulstrode needs a little journey planning: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- You let us know how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- The stacks are looked at from the ground, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach them.
- The findings are written up with photos and recommendations and emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
Getting a price
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or email us. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Advice
Prices for chimney surveys in Bulstrode
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Which survey package you book
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
What we need to know
Some details help us suggest the right survey and price. When you contact us, tell us:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Bulstrode
The wider area around Bulstrode has a long history of building, with Chenies Manor House about 3 miles south. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
If you live in an older home near Church of St Lawrence, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. If you look after a building like Bovingdon Primary Academy, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. For landlords with property near Hemel Hempstead station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Bulstrode is about 3 miles south-west of Hemel Hempstead, in Hertfordshire. Bulstrode is one of many places we visit across Hertfordshire. Bulstrode is one of the towns and villages in Hertfordshire where we work for chimney surveys. There’s also a page for London.
All of HP3 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Streets in the area include Chipperfield Road and Flaunden Lane, all of which we cover. We also cover the places around Bulstrode: Tower Hill (1 mile south-east), Bovingdon (1 mile west), Hogpits Bottom (1 mile south-west), Bourne End (2 miles north) and Chaulden (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Watford (6 miles south-east), Hemel Hempstead (3 miles north-east), St Albans (8 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (15 miles north-east), Harpenden (10 miles north-east) and Hatfield (12 miles east).
Local landmarks in Bulstrode
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Boot Public House and Kings Langley School and the streets around them. The closest station to Bulstrode is Hemel Hempstead station, about 2 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Hemel Hempstead Hospital (3 miles north-east). The countryside around Bulstrode includes Sarratt Bottom nature reserve.
Places near Bulstrode
Other services in Bulstrode
Bulstrode: your questions answered
Is Bulstrode within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Bulstrode?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
How do I book a survey in Bulstrode?
To book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys run seven days a week. To find a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. Our survey covers the outside of the stack and the roof around it. The flue should be checked by a sweep, or by a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. On a shared roof we can only inspect the parts we’re allowed to reach, and the report makes that clear.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we’re not structural engineers and do not carry out calculations. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
What we look for on each type of roof
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. We record any we can see.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Damp patches on chimney breasts often point to a problem above. We check the breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach.