Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Hogpits Bottom Chimney Survey
Find out what’s going on with the chimney stack before you spend money on it. We carry out chimney surveys in Hogpits Bottom, with photos and a clear written report.
- A chimney out of line
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
Chimney survey in Hogpits Bottom: what you get
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It is not a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. For the flue itself, you’ll need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. If something we see points to the flue, we’ll say so. Common reasons to book are gaps in the mortar around the pots and pots or cowls that look unsafe, across chimney pots and cowls, brick chimney stacks and shared and party-wall stacks.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
What you get is a clear record of the chimney stack on the day we saw it. It is useful right away, and a good reference for later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Where
- Hogpits Bottom (HP3)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. We survey on any day of the week, which can make access easier.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To arrange surveys for several addresses, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the addresses.
How it works
You do not need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Older rural homes like those around Hogpits Bottom 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.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We check 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.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
Getting a price
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and give us some details about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Hogpits Bottom
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. Historic houses such as Chenies Manor House, about 2 miles south, show how far back building in the area around Hogpits Bottom goes. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary Magdalene (Church of England): corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. Landlords with a home close to Chalfont & Latimer station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Hogpits Bottom is about 4 miles east of Chesham, in Hertfordshire. In Hogpits Bottom, as across Hertfordshire, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for London.
Every address in HP3 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Streets in the area include Flaunden Lane, Black Robins Lane and Hogpits Bottom, all of which we cover. Other places close to Hogpits Bottom include Bulstrode (1 mile north-east), Tower Hill (1 mile north-east), Bovingdon (1 mile north), Ley Hill (2 miles west) and Botley (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Watford (6 miles south-east), Hemel Hempstead (5 miles north-east), St Albans (9 miles east), Harpenden (11 miles north-east), Hatfield (13 miles east) and Borehamwood (11 miles east).
Around Hogpits Bottom
We work in homes and buildings around The Bricklayer Arms Public House and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Chalfont & Latimer station, about 2.7 miles south-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Amersham Fair Organ Museum (3.3 miles south-west) and Hemel Hempstead Hospital (4.2 miles north-east). The countryside around Hogpits Bottom includes Sarratt Bottom nature reserve.
Different roofs, different checks
Flaunching
Flaunching takes the worst of the weather. We look for cracks, gaps around the pots and missing pieces.
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We record their condition with photos.
Leave it or get it looked at?
For a buyer, the best time to learn about a chimney is before exchange. After that, any work is yours to arrange and pay for. Our report gives you facts to raise with the seller or agent. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Why book with us
- An independent look at the roof
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Photographs and a written report every time
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
Nearby places to Hogpits Bottom
More services for Hogpits Bottom
FAQs for Hogpits Bottom
Is my home in Hogpits Bottom listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is 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.
Will you come out to Hogpits Bottom?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. Our survey covers the outside of the stack and the roof around it. For the flue, you will need a sweep or, for gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
It can come from several places: cracked flaunching, worn pointing, failed flashings, uncapped pots, or damp trapped in an unventilated stack. We check each one and note the most likely cause.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
An unused stack still needs to stay weathertight and ventilated. If it’s capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. We check how it’s capped and its condition, so you can plan what to do with it.
Checking the roof from the ground
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Prices for chimney surveys in Hogpits Bottom
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
What we need to know
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It helps to include:
- The property’s address and postcode
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
We confirm the price for your survey before you book, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.