Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Great Gaddesden Chimney Survey
We take a careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Great Gaddesden, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Great Gaddesden
A chimney survey is about the outside of the stack and the roof around it. It’s not a flue inspection, a chimney sweep or a gas safety inspection. If you use a fire or a gas appliance, the flue should be checked by a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer as appropriate. If something we see points to the flue, we will say so. Typical surveys look at lifted or split lead flashings and unused flues sealed without airflow, on chimney breasts, flaunching and brick chimney stacks.
In a small place like Great Gaddesden, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- Great Gaddesden (HP1)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Why it’s worth a survey now in Great Gaddesden
Most people never get a proper look at their chimney stacks. Defects tend to go unseen until there’s a stain. Surveying the stack now can catch problems first. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
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 want to find out.
Why book us in Great Gaddesden
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
Read what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
What this survey cannot tell you
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll recommend the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
Places near Great Gaddesden
More services for Great Gaddesden
How the survey works
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings as a report with photos. On timing, it normally takes an hour or two for a house, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. In a small place like Great Gaddesden, access is usually the main thing to plan. 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.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We check every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
How to prepare
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
Booking a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
What a survey costs
To price your survey, we look at:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- House, block, shop or office
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.
Getting in touch
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It helps to include:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The property’s address and postcode
- What’s prompted the survey
- When you need the report by
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney breasts and the loft
Stains on timbers or brickwork around the stack can point to a leak. What we find is photographed and described.
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Keep a simple 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.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Chimney surveys around Great Gaddesden
In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. 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 the council is the place to ask.
If you let a flat or house near Berkhamsted station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. The streets around a church such as Church of St John the Baptist are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. Anyone responsible for a site like Great Gaddesden Church of England Primary School will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Great Gaddesden is about 3 miles north-west of Hemel Hempstead, in Hertfordshire. Great Gaddesden gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a close look at everything that’s safely in view, photos and a clear written report. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire. Milton Keynes is in our area too.
Here we cover the HP1 postcode area for chimney surveys. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Church Meadow, Piper's Hill and Dagnall Road or a nearby road, we can help. Other places close to Great Gaddesden include Nettleden (1 mile south-west), Frithsden (1 mile south-west), Potten End (2 miles south-west), Fields End (2 miles south) and Ashridge (2 miles west). We also work in nearby towns like Watford (10 miles south-east), Hemel Hempstead (3 miles south-east), St Albans (8 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (14 miles east), Harpenden (7 miles east) and Hitchin (15 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Great Gaddesden
Typical jobs here are in homes near John F Kennedy Catholic School and The Crown and Sceptre pub, among other places. The closest station to Great Gaddesden is Berkhamsted station, roughly 3 miles south-west. Other landmarks nearby include Hemel Hempstead Hospital (3.2 miles south-east). The countryside around Great Gaddesden includes Landpark Wood.
Common questions in Great Gaddesden
Can a landlord with a rental near Berkhamsted station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Great Gaddesden?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. If a 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.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so the building owner or managing agent needs to agree access. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
How long is the visit?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof; most visits take about one to two hours on an ordinary house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
An unused stack still needs to stay weathertight and ventilated. If it is capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. We check how it’s capped and its condition, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers. We’ll recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In strong wind or a downpour, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.