Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Datchworth
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Datchworth. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Worn or missing pointing
- Signs that a stack is leaning
Chimney survey in Datchworth: what you get
A damp patch on a chimney breast doesn’t always come from the same place. Water may be getting in at the top through cracked flaunching or an uncapped pot, through the brickwork, or at the flashings. Condensation inside an unventilated stack is another common cause. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause. You then know where to start. Common reasons to book are spalled or crumbling bricks and loose, cracked or missing pots, across shared and party-wall stacks, flaunching and brick chimney stacks.
In a village or hamlet like Datchworth, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. 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 frequently need the most attention.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Where
- Datchworth (SG3)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. Cracks are photographed and noted.
Lead flashings
Where the chimney meets the roof slopes, lead flashings keep water out. We check for lifting, splits and gaps in the joints.
What a chimney survey looks like in Datchworth
Aston Bury, about 1.9 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Datchworth. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead. 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. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Take a building like St Michael's Woolmer Green CofE VA Primary School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. If you own a rental within reach of Knebworth station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Datchworth is about 4 miles north of Welwyn Garden City, in Hertfordshire. We carry out chimney surveys in Datchworth for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Datchworth is one of the places in Hertfordshire where we work for chimney surveys. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
Every address in SG3 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Brookbridge Lane, Nutcroft and Meadow Close and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Bull's Green (1 mile south), Woolmer Green (1 mile west), Burnham Green (1 mile south), Hook's Cross (1 mile north-east) and Tewin Wood (1 mile south). We also work in nearby towns like Hemel Hempstead (15 miles south-west), Stevenage (4 miles north), St Albans (10 miles south-west), Bishop's Stortford (14 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (4 miles south) and Harpenden (8 miles west).
Around Datchworth
We work in homes and buildings around The Tilbury pub, among other places. The nearest railway station is Knebworth station, roughly 1.6 miles north-west. A little further out are Benington Castle (3.5 miles north-east) and Datchworth Museum (within half a mile south). The countryside around Datchworth includes Mardley Heath.
What affects the price in Datchworth
When we price a survey, we consider:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Roof area
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Every price we give includes VAT. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the exact price before booking.
Helping us price your survey
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Anything about access we should know
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Towns and villages near Datchworth
What else we do in Datchworth
Surveys for landlords and agents in Datchworth
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the chimney stack, useful for planning maintenance.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
The survey, step by step
You do not need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will take it from there. The survey itself takes roughly 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Somewhere as small as Datchworth, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can be seen safely.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Where there is 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.
Before we arrive
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Keep pets in another room
Book a survey
For a price for chimney surveys in Datchworth, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Some details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
Advice
Questions from Datchworth
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Knebworth station?
Yes, letting agents and landlords book with us as well as owners. You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a few details.
How do I find out if my home in Datchworth is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
How do I book a survey in Datchworth?
The quickest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Give us the address and some details about the roof. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
A leaning stack should be looked at. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We carry out surveys on weekdays and at weekends. To find a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not unless it is safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where it applies, a drone, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
Signs you need a chimney survey in Datchworth
A stack takes the weather from every direction. Frost works into cracks in the flaunching and pointing, and rain soaks into worn brickwork. People normally call us when they notice damp or a problem with the stack, or before a purchase.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Worn or missing pointing
The streets around a church such as Church of All Saints are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Their insurance cover
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- How soon the report will arrive
When you need someone else
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Bear these in mind:
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Datchworth
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching