Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Hudnall, Hertfordshire
A careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Hudnall, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- A stack that appears to lean
Chimney survey in Hudnall
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It’s not a flue inspection, a chimney sweep or a gas safety inspection. For the flue itself, you will need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. We’ll tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. Typical surveys look at eroded joints in the brickwork and lifted or split lead flashings, on lead flashings, brick chimney stacks and shared and party-wall stacks.
In a village or hamlet like Hudnall, 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. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it’s typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
What you get is a clear record of the chimney stack on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later.
- Location
- Hudnall (HP4)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How we price chimney surveys
We confirm the price for your roof before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
All our prices include VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
Getting in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- What’s prompted the survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Common questions in Hudnall
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Berkhamsted station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hudnall?
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.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
We look from the ground, from windows and from the loft where it’s safe. A drone inspection is part of the Premium Survey where it applies. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
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.
What does the report include?
Written findings with photographs, explaining the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our recommendations. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain is usually fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In strong wind or heavy rain, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. Photos are taken throughout the survey, and they go into the written report.
How the survey changes by roof type
Rendered stacks
A rendered stack can mask problems in the bricks below. The survey checks for cracking, bulging and staining in the render.
Brick stacks
Brick stacks rely on sound pointing to keep water out. The survey looks for crumbling bricks and worn or missing mortar.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Hudnall
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
How the survey works
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. After that, we look at everything we can see safely. The survey usually takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, or half a day or so for a commercial building. For a village or hamlet like Hudnall, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before we arrive
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Arrange a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
Local roofs in Hudnall
In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
Landlords with a home close to Berkhamsted station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Hudnall is about 3 miles north of Berkhamsted, in Hertfordshire. From houses to flats and shops in Hudnall, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire, large and small. Milton Keynes is in our area too.
Chimney surveys in HP4 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Other places close to Hudnall include Little Gaddesden (1 mile north-west), Hudnall Corner (1 mile east), Ringshall (1 mile north-west) and Dagnall (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns like Watford (12 miles south-east), Hemel Hempstead (5 miles south-east), St Albans (10 miles south-east), Welwyn Garden City (15 miles east), Harpenden (8 miles east) and Hitchin (15 miles north-east).
Local landmarks in Hudnall
For rail, the closest station is Berkhamsted station, roughly 3.2 miles south. Other landmarks nearby include Hemel Hempstead Hospital (5.1 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Ivinghoe Beacon and Sallowsprings.
Why act early in Hudnall
A small amount of repointing or new flaunching is typically a modest job. Left for a few winters, frost and water can loosen pots and bricks and the job gets bigger. Older cottages and farmhouses around Hudnall can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why book with us
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Every finding written up with photos
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
Nearby places to Hudnall
What else we do in Hudnall
Do you need a chimney survey in Hudnall?
Many chimneys are no longer used. If a stack is capped or blocked without ventilation, moisture can build up inside. Damp patches can appear on chimney breasts even when nothing is leaking.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- A stack that appears to lean
- Bricks with flaking faces
For any home in Hudnall, it is the small, early fault that is cheapest to put right.
Questions to ask before booking
- How soon the report will arrive
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA