Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Friar's Wash Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching around Friar's Wash, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
How a chimney survey works in Friar's Wash
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. A disused stack still needs looking after. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. You get photos of each stack and our recommendations. We survey chimney breasts, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney pots and cowls, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are a stack that appears to lean and eroded joints in the brickwork.
In a small place like Friar's Wash, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are frequently where weather gets in first.
If any part of the chimney stack couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Location
- Friar's Wash (AL3)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Leave it or get it looked at?
Before deciding what to do with a redundant stack, a survey shows how it is doing. Changes to stacks in conservation areas or on listed buildings may need consent and the council can advise. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Friar's Wash, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included.
What you get with us
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
See what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
What we do, step by step
The visit has one job: to see as much of the chimney stack as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It typically takes about 1–2 hours at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Somewhere like Friar's Wash needs a little journey planning: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect what can be seen safely, inside and out.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before we arrive
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Arrange a survey
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before booking.
Advice
What you can safely check yourself
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date.
Nearby places to Friar's Wash
Other services in Friar's Wash
How the survey changes by roof type
Flaunching
Sitting at the very top, flaunching is fully exposed. We look for cracks, gaps around the pots and missing pieces.
Rendered stacks
We can’t see the bricks behind render without it being opened up, so the report says what can and can’t be judged.
What a chimney survey looks like in Friar's Wash
Historic houses like Childwickbury Manor, about 4.5 miles south-east, show how far back building in the area around Friar's Wash goes. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. 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. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
Take an older house close to Church of St Leonard: old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near The Mall Luton, a roof report helps plan work around trading rather than after a leak.
Friar's Wash is about 3 miles west of Harpenden, in Hertfordshire. We carry out chimney surveys in Friar's Wash for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. We cover towns and villages across Hertfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Milton Keynes.
Chimney surveys in AL3 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Local streets include London Road, Chequers Hill and Old Watling Street, and we cover them all. We also cover the places around Friar's Wash: Flamstead (1 mile south-west), Trowley Bottom (1 mile south-west) and Markyate (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Watford (11 miles south), Hemel Hempstead (5 miles south), Stevenage (12 miles north-east), St Albans (7 miles south-east), Welwyn Garden City (10 miles east) and Harpenden (3 miles east).
What’s near Friar's Wash
Typical jobs here are in homes near Chequers pub and Roundwood Park School, among other places. Friar's Wash’s nearest station is Harpenden station, about 3.2 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Luton Castle (3.5 miles north) and Redbourn Museum (2.3 miles south-east). Open spaces near Friar's Wash include Landpark Wood.
Practical tips
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Check your stacks from the ground after strong winds
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Check your stacks from the street or garden after a storm. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.
When to book a survey in Friar's Wash
TV aerials, satellite dishes and their brackets are frequently fixed to chimneys. The extra load in wind can work bricks and joints loose. We check fixings on the stack as part of the survey.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- A stack that appears to lean
Anyone responsible for a site like Flamstead Village School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Are they insured for the work?
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
FAQs for Friar's Wash
Can a landlord with a rental near Harpenden station book a roof survey?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the building, including who will give access on the day.
Do you cover smaller places like Friar's Wash?
Yes, Friar's Wash is covered. We work right across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
What happens after the survey?
You receive the written report by email, with photographs and recommendations. It’s yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
An unused stack still needs to stay weathertight and ventilated. If it’s capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. We check how it is capped and its condition, so you can plan what to do with it.
My chimney looks like it’s 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.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, if the freeholder or managing agent agrees access. We look at the parts we are given access to.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We will rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.