Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Hexton
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Hexton, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Worn or missing pointing
- Flaunching that has broken away
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Hexton
Damp on a chimney breast can have several causes. Water may be getting in at the top through cracked flaunching or an uncapped pot, through the brickwork, or at the flashings. Moisture trapped inside a stack with no ventilation can also cause damp. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause. You then know where to start. We’re often asked to look into worn or missing pointing and disused chimneys trapping moisture, across chimney pots and cowls, lead flashings and chimney breasts.
Village roofs frequently face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, 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 written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Location
- Hexton (SG5)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
Nearby places to Hexton
What else we do in Hexton
Signs you need a chimney survey in Hexton
TV aerials, satellite dishes and their brackets are often fixed to chimneys. Their weight and the wind on them can loosen bricks and pointing. Any fixings on the stack are checked and recorded.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Worn or missing pointing
Homes near green spaces like Recreation Ground can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Before you book anyone
- When you’ll get the report
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings
Flashings can lift in wind or pull out of their mortar joints. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. We record any we can see.
What a chimney survey looks like in Hexton
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Harlington Manor, about 4.3 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Hexton. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you look after a building like Hexton Junior Mixed and Infant School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle. Landlords with a home close to Harlington station may find that a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Hexton is in Hertfordshire. Hexton gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a proper look at what can safely be seen, photographs and a clear written report. Our Hertfordshire coverage includes Hexton. Milton Keynes is in our area too.
All of SG5 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Pegsdon (1 mile east), Apsley End (2 miles north-east), Hanscombe End (2 miles north), Shillington (3 miles north-east) and Pirton (3 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Hemel Hempstead (15 miles south), Stevenage (10 miles south-east), St Albans (15 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (14 miles south-east), Harpenden (10 miles south) and Hitchin (5 miles east).
Around Hexton
We work in homes and buildings around Recreation Ground and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Harlington station, roughly 4.5 miles west of the centre. A little further out are Ravensburgh Castle (0.9 miles south-west) and John Dony Field Centre (3.9 miles south). Not far away are Butts Hill and Barton Gravel Pit.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Hexton
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work around your tenants.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
The survey, step by step
The visit normally starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. All told, expect between one and two hours at most homes, and longer for a large or complex roof. Somewhere like Hexton needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We look at every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Before the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Advice
Hexton: your questions answered
Will you come out to Hexton?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Harlington station?
Yes, letting agents and landlords book with us as well as owners. You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details, including who will give access on the day.
Do you inspect the flue?
No. We survey the stack and its weathering, not the flue. For the flue, you will need a sweep or, for gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Can you survey at the weekend?
We survey seven days a week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just let us know the days that suit you.
How long does the survey take?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof, but most surveys take between one and two hours for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. The written report follows by email.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you will need a RICS survey as well.
What should I do with a chimney I don’t use?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. If it’s capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. Our survey records its condition and how it’s capped, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
Tips from our surveys
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. The photos show the problem and which side it is on, as far as we could see.
Check redundant flues are capped with ventilation. That helps stop damp building up inside.