Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Harmer Green
Chimney surveys in Harmer Green, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. You get a clear report with photographs.
- A stack that appears to lean
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
Chimney survey in Harmer Green: what you get
We inspect chimneys from wherever they can be seen safely: from ground level, from windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there is access. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where it applies. Where part of a stack cannot be seen, the report says so. Each defect is recorded with a photo and a plain description. Common reasons to book are cracked or missing flaunching and loose, cracked or missing pots, on flaunching, lead flashings and shared and party-wall stacks.
In a village or hamlet like Harmer Green, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently 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 often need the most attention.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Location
- Harmer Green (AL6)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Prices for chimney surveys in Harmer Green
All our prices include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Which survey package you book
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Roof area
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package matters as well. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Booking your survey
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
To get a price for chimney surveys in Harmer Green, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us give you an accurate price.
What we’re asked to look at in Harmer Green
Flashings seal the gap where a stack passes through the roof. With age they can lift, split or come away from the joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
Common reasons to book include:
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Bricks with flaking faces
If you live in an older home near Digswell Village Church, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- How soon the report will arrive
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Which limits apply to the survey
Useful tips for Harmer Green property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Check your stacks from the ground after strong winds
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
With a shared stack, the report can help when talking to next door. The photos show the problem and which side it is on from the viewpoints we used.
Check fixings on the stack are sound, and moved if they’re working it loose. Less load on the stack means less strain in wind.
How the survey works
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes between one and two hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Older rural homes like those around Harmer Green can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Preparing for the visit
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Book a survey
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will explain the options and the price.
Related advice
What happens if roof problems are left?
Most people never get a proper look at their chimney stacks. Problems often go unnoticed until damp appears inside. A survey gives you a clear picture before that happens. Older and listed buildings around Harmer Green may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
To find out what your survey will cost, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why us?
- Package prices that include VAT
- Visits on any day of the week
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Over 20 years’ experience
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
DIY checks: what’s safe
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when booking and it will help the survey.
Chimney surveys in Harmer Green: local notes
Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. The wider area around Harmer Green has a long history of building, with Digswell House about 1.5 miles south-west. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Trees in and around Danesbury Park shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall. If you own a rental within reach of Welwyn North station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Harmer Green is about 2 miles north of Welwyn Garden City, in Hertfordshire. Harmer Green gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful look at everything that’s safely in view, photographs and a clear written report. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire. You can also see our page for London.
We cover every part of the AL6 postcode area for chimney surveys and the streets around it. If you’re just outside Harmer Green, we cover Burnham Green (1 mile east), Tewin Wood (1 mile east), Oaklands (1 mile north-west), Bull's Green (1 mile north-east) and Digswell (1 mile south-west). We also work in nearby towns like Watford (15 miles south-west), Hemel Hempstead (13 miles south-west), Stevenage (5 miles north), St Albans (8 miles south-west), Bishop's Stortford (15 miles east) and Harpenden (7 miles west).
Near you in Harmer Green
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Danesbury Park, Monk's Walk School and The White Horse Public House. Harmer Green’s nearest station is Welwyn North station, roughly 0.8 miles south-west. A little further out are Hertford Castle (4.9 miles south-east) and Queen Elizabeth II Hospital (3.4 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Tewin Orchard and Hopkyns Wood.
Harmer Green questions
Do you cover smaller places like Harmer Green?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Can a landlord with a rental near Welwyn North station book a roof survey?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. Our survey records its condition and how it’s capped, so you can plan what to do with it.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. We inspect what can safely be seen and what you give us access to. Where a problem appears to be on next door’s side, we note it and you can raise it with them.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We can only inspect what we are given access to.