Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Colney Heath, Hertfordshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Colney Heath, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
Practical tips
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It covers the pots, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings, and any damp we found inside. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Look at your chimneys from the ground now and then, particularly after strong winds. With binoculars, you can frequently see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.
How a chimney survey works in Colney Heath
Each stack is looked at from the safest viewpoints available: from ground level, from windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there’s access. With our Premium Survey, a drone inspection is included where it applies. Where part of a stack can’t be seen, the report says so. Every defect we find is photographed and described in plain words. We survey brick chimney stacks, shared and party-wall stacks and flaunching, and the problems we are asked to look at most are loose, cracked or missing pots and eroded joints in the brickwork.
Some older homes in villages like Colney Heath are 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. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials like clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend.
- Location
- Colney Heath (AL4)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Local roofs in Colney Heath
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. The wider area around Colney Heath has a long history of building, with Hatfield House about 2.3 miles north-east. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Shop and office owners around The Maltings may find that knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies. If you look after a building like Colney Heath Junior Mixed Infant and Nursery School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. Landlords with a home close to Welham Green station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Colney Heath is about 2 miles south-west of Hatfield, in Hertfordshire. If you are in Colney Heath, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire. There’s also a page for London.
Surveys in AL4 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We offer chimney surveys to properties on High Street, Fair View and Roestock Lane and the roads around them. Close by, we survey roofs in Sleapshyde (1 mile north-west), Welham Green (1 mile east), Smallford (1 mile north-west), Hatfield (2 miles north-east) and Tyttenhanger (2 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Watford (8 miles south-west), Hemel Hempstead (9 miles west), Stevenage (12 miles north), St Albans (3 miles west), Welwyn Garden City (5 miles north-east) and Harpenden (7 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Colney Heath
Typical jobs here are in homes near Chalkdrawers Arms, Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School and North Mimms Park and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Welham Green station, roughly 1.7 miles east. A little further out are Hill End Hospital (2.3 miles west) and The Bunker at Hatfield Police Station (1.9 miles north). Open spaces near Colney Heath include Verulamium Lake and Colney Heath Local Nature Reserve.
What we do, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the chimney stack as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It usually takes about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Around Colney Heath, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it’s useful to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We check every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Before the survey
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Arrange a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney pots and cowls
Damaged pots are a safety concern as well as a leak risk. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
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.
Also near Colney Heath
What else we do in Colney Heath
Why get it checked now?
Cracked flaunching and worn pointing are often modest repairs when they’re caught early. Left for a few winters, frost and water can loosen pots and bricks and the job gets bigger. In a small place like Colney Heath, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Colney Heath
- Photographs and a written report every time
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- An independent view of the roof
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
See what a roof survey costs or what we found on two real jobs.
What affects the price in Colney Heath
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Booking your survey
These details help when you get in touch:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- What kind of property and roof it is
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or email us to find out.
What this survey cannot tell you
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 the flue is safe to use
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Colney Heath
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
FAQs for Colney Heath
Is my home in Colney Heath listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Will you come out to Colney Heath?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Are you insured?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and details are available on request.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
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.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only if it’s safe. We check everything that can be seen safely: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where applicable. Anything we can’t see is noted in the report.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
An unused stack still needs to stay weathertight and ventilated. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. We check how it’s capped and its condition, so you can plan what to do with it.