Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Great Offley, Hertfordshire
We carry out chimney surveys in Great Offley and the rest of Hertfordshire. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
Chimney survey in Great Offley: what you get
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It is not a flue inspection, a chimney sweep or a gas safety inspection. For the flue itself, you will need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. If something we see points to the flue, we will say so. If you are worried about flaunching that has broken away and bricks with flaking faces, we can find out what’s behind it, on flaunching, chimney pots and cowls and brick chimney stacks alike.
Older buildings in small places like Great Offley may be listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are frequently matched when work is done.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Place
- Great Offley (SG5)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs, sent to you by email. As for time on site, it typically takes an hour or two at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Cottages and farmhouses around Great Offley often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Preparing for the visit
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
Booking a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form to find out.
Advice
Roof by roof
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We record their condition with photographs.
Flaunching
Flaunching is the mortar on top of a stack that holds the pots and sheds water. Once it cracks, water can get straight into the brickwork.
FAQs for Great Offley
Can a landlord with a rental near Hitchin station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and letting agents book with us as well as owners. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us about the building, including who will give access on the day.
Will you come out to Great Offley?
Yes, Great Offley is covered. We work right across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
How much does a chimney survey cost in Great Offley?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Our stack is shared. Can you still survey it?
Yes. We check the parts we can see safely and the parts you can give us access to. If a defect seems to be on your neighbour’s side, the report records it, so you can discuss it with them.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
How fast do I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. If you have a deadline, like an exchange date, tell us when booking.
Why it is worth a survey now in Great Offley
Loose pots and bricks on a stack are a safety concern. Finding them early means they can be dealt with before they come down by a suitable contractor. Older and listed buildings around Great Offley may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
Why book with us
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Every finding written up with photos
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
See how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
Chimney surveys in Great Offley: local notes
Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
Landlords with a home close to Hitchin station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. Take an older house close to Church of St Mary Magdalene: its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Great Offley is about 3 miles south-west of Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. Roofs in Great Offley get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Hertfordshire. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire, large and small. There is also a page for Milton Keynes.
All of SG5 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. You will find streets such as High Street, Garden Fields and John Hall Court, and we cover them all. If you’re just outside Great Offley, we cover The Flints (1 mile west), Temple End (2 miles east), Ley Green (2 miles south-east) and Pegsdon (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Hemel Hempstead (13 miles south-west), Stevenage (7 miles east), St Albans (12 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (11 miles south-east), Harpenden (8 miles south) and Hitchin (3 miles north-east).
Near you in Great Offley
In Great Offley, that means homes and buildings near The Bull Public House and the streets around them. The closest station to Great Offley is Hitchin station, about 3.7 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Ravensburgh Castle (3.1 miles north-west) and Keech Hospice Care (4.2 miles west). For a walk, there’s Pegsdon Hills and Markham's Hill.
Also near Great Offley
What else we do in Great Offley
Do you need a chimney survey in Great Offley?
Lots of homes have redundant stacks. If a stack is capped or blocked without ventilation, moisture can build up inside. That can lead to damp patches on chimney breasts, even with the roof in good order.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
Anyone responsible for a site like Offley Endowed Primary School will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- What insurance they carry
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
Can I check my roof myself?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Great Offley
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photographs included.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which can make access easier.