Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Holwellbury
We carry out chimney surveys in Holwellbury and the rest of Hertfordshire. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Worn or missing pointing
- Staining on walls around the chimney
How a chimney survey works in Holwellbury
If you are buying a home with chimneys, it is worth knowing their condition before you exchange. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. You get photographs and findings you can take back to the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. We survey flaunching, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney breasts, and common reasons people get in touch are bricks with flaking faces and a chimney out of line.
Village roofs often 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.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, sent by email. It explains the condition of the chimney stack, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- Holwellbury (SG5)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes between one and two hours at most homes, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. You are welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Somewhere as small as Holwellbury, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Preparing for the visit
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Arrange a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
Advice
Places near Holwellbury
Other services in Holwellbury
Local roofs in Holwellbury
An older home may be listed, or stand 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. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
Landlords with a home close to Arlesey station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. Anyone responsible for a site like Derwent Lower School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Holwellbury is about 3 miles north-west of Letchworth, in Hertfordshire. We provide chimney surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Holwellbury. We cover towns and villages across Hertfordshire, large and small. You can also see our page for Milton Keynes.
Surveys in SG5 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Ickleford (2 miles south), Westmill (3 miles south), Bearton (3 miles south), Letchworth Garden City (3 miles south-east) and Walsworth (3 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Stevenage (8 miles south-east), Welwyn Garden City (14 miles south), Harpenden (13 miles south), Hitchin (3 miles south), Stotfold (3 miles north-east) and Baldock (5 miles east).
Around Holwellbury
We work in homes and buildings around The Priory School. Holwellbury’s nearest station is Arlesey station, about 2.4 miles north-east of the centre. A little further out are Fairfield Hospital (2.1 miles east) and Wymondley Castle (4.6 miles south-east). For a walk, there’s Arlesey Old Moat and Glebe Meadows and Markham's Hill.
Roof by roof
Lead flashings
Some older stacks have mortar fillets instead of lead. They crack with age, and we check them too.
Brick stacks
Older brick stacks often have soft lime mortar. We note where repairs should match the original mortar.
Do you need a chimney survey in Holwellbury?
A stack takes the weather from every direction. Frost opens up cracks in the mortar, and rain gets into worn bricks and joints. People normally call us when they notice damp or a problem with the stack, or before a purchase.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
The streets around a church such as Church of St Peter (C of E) at Corner with Holwell Road are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
How we price chimney surveys
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- How big the roof is
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. You’ll know the price for your survey before booking.
What we need to know
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you get in touch, it’s useful to mention:
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- What made you get in touch
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will ask a few questions about the roof. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Common questions in Holwellbury
Do you cover smaller places like Holwellbury?
Yes. Holwellbury is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
I let a flat near Arlesey station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, letting agents and landlords book with us as well as owners. Just ring 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the building, including who will give access on the day.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We don’t sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
Damp on a chimney breast typically means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped and records the likely cause.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we do not carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain is usually fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In high wind or heavy rain, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
Practical tips
Getting the most from a chimney survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Check your stacks from ground level after strong winds
After the visit, we write up the report with photographs of each stack. It covers the pots, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings, and any damp we found inside. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
Can I check my roof myself?
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.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.