Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Hatfield, Hertfordshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Hatfield, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- A stack that appears to lean
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
Hatfield homes and their roofs
Hatfield was built as one of England’s post-war new towns. Homes from the post-war decades are common in the new towns, many with low-pitched roofs in concrete tiles and flat-roofed garages or porches. Low-pitched roofs shed water more slowly, and older concrete tiles, felt and gutters on these homes may be nearing the end of their life. Historic houses like Hatfield House, about 1 mile east, show how far back building in the area around Hatfield goes. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Take an older house close to Church of St Luke: its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near Howard Centre, a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks. If you look after a building such as Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Hatfield is about 4 miles east of St Albans, in Hertfordshire. Wherever you are in Hatfield, we can carry out chimney surveys at your property. Hatfield is one of the towns and villages in Hertfordshire we cover for chimney surveys. For surveys nearby, see our London page.
All of AL10 and AL9 is covered for chimney surveys. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Market Place, Bishop Square and Fiddle Bridge Lane or a nearby road, we can help. Hatfield is on the A414 and B197, so it’s easy for us to get to. If you’re just outside Hatfield, we cover Smallford (2 miles west), Colney Heath (2 miles south-west), Sleapshyde (2 miles south-west), Stanborough (2 miles north) and Cooper's Green (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns like Watford (10 miles south-west), Hemel Hempstead (10 miles west), Stevenage (10 miles north), St Albans (4 miles west), Welwyn Garden City (3 miles north-east) and Harpenden (6 miles north-west).
What’s near Hatfield
Typical jobs here are in homes near Stanborough Park and The Cat and Fiddle pub. The closest station to Hatfield is Hatfield station, about 0.7 miles east. A little further out are Queen Elizabeth II Hospital (2.4 miles north-east) and Howard Centre (2.9 miles north-east). Not far away are Colney Heath Local Nature Reserve.
Chimney survey in Hatfield
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is often shared with next door. We check what can be seen safely and what the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it and you can then discuss it with them. You get a report with photos and what we recommend. If you’ve noticed a chimney out of line and bricks with flaking faces, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on brick chimney stacks, flaunching and shared and party-wall stacks alike.
In a town like Hatfield, older houses with slate or clay tile roofs usually sit alongside later estates with concrete tiles. Older homes frequently keep chimney stacks long after the fireplaces went, and their flashings and pointing still matter. Later houses have their own typical faults, from loose ridge tiles to blocked gutters.
Where we can’t see part of the chimney stack, the report says so. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Location
- Hatfield (AL10, AL9)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. All told, expect about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. A typical visit in Hatfield begins with the street side of the roof and then moves round the building. The back garden is frequently where extensions, dormers and rear slopes are best seen, so unlocked gates help. Then, if it can be reached safely, we look in the loft.
- You let us know how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- Every part we can see is checked: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Before the survey
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
Booking a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
Related advice
Can I check my roof myself?
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
Useful tips for Hatfield property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare.
Make sure fixings on the stack are sound and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.
Why act early in Hatfield
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, so check with them first. On homes in Hatfield, the joint between an extension and the house is where a slow leak tends to start. Left for a few seasons, it can spoil plaster, skirting and flooring inside.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 inc. VAT. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why book us in Hatfield
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Plain-English reports with photos
Read our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
Different roofs, different checks
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. We record any cracking and where it is.
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
Hatfield: your questions answered
Is my home in Hatfield listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. 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.
I let a flat near Hatfield station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, that is a common request. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Our survey is not a structural engineer’s report, and it doesn’t include calculations. We will recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
Are you insured?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not always. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where applicable let us see the rest, and the report records anything we couldn’t see.
How long is the visit?
Most surveys take between one and two hours for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. The report follows by email.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Typically it’s water getting in from outside, or condensation in a sealed stack. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped, and record what we find.
For landlords and managing agents
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.