Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Hunsdonbury Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys in Hunsdonbury from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Bricks with flaking faces
- A chimney out of line
The survey, 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 an hour or two for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Older roofs in small places like Hunsdonbury can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Before we arrive
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
Getting a price
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Advice
How a chimney survey works in Hunsdonbury
Redundant chimneys are common, particularly where fires have been replaced by central heating. A disused stack still needs looking after. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. We survey chimney pots and cowls, shared and party-wall stacks and brick chimney stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are damp patches on chimney breasts and bricks with flaking faces.
Older buildings in small places like Hunsdonbury may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Hunsdonbury (SG12)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- 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 weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Landlords and letting agents in Hunsdonbury book surveys as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the chimney stack, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Useful tips for Hunsdonbury property owners
Getting the most from a chimney survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Check your stacks from the ground after strong winds
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
Once we’ve been, the findings are written up with photos. It covers the pots, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings, and any damp we found inside. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
When to book a survey in Hunsdonbury
A stack takes the weather from every direction. Frost opens up cracks in the mortar, and rain gets into worn bricks and joints. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
People usually book a survey when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- A chimney out of line
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
If you let a flat or house near Roydon station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- What the survey will not cover
- How long the report takes to arrive
DIY checks: what’s safe
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
What a chimney survey looks like in Hunsdonbury
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. Historic houses such as Much Hadham Palace, about 4 miles north, show how far back building in the area around Hunsdonbury goes. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near St Francis Chapel, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. If you look after a building like Hunsdon Junior Mixed and Infant School, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Hunsdonbury is about 3 miles north-west of Harlow, in Hertfordshire. In Hunsdonbury, as across Hertfordshire, every roof gets the same careful survey. Across Hertfordshire, we cover Hunsdonbury. We also survey roofs in Chelmsford.
We work across SG12 for chimney surveys. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Acorn Street, Great Oak Court and Nine Ashes or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Hunsdonbury: Hunsdon (1 mile north), Widford (1 mile north), Nether Street (2 miles north), Wareside (2 miles north-west) and Babbs Green (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Stevenage (13 miles north-west), Bishop's Stortford (6 miles north-east), Welwyn Garden City (11 miles west), Hoddesdon (4 miles south-west), Cheshunt (8 miles south-west) and Hatfield (12 miles west).
Landmarks near Hunsdonbury
Around Hunsdonbury, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Fox & Hounds pub and Roydon Primary School. The closest station to Hunsdonbury is Roydon station, about 1.9 miles south of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Princess Alexandra Hospital (2.5 miles south-east) and Henry Moore Studios and Gardens (2.8 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Hunsdon Mead.
Why get it checked now?
A damp chimney breast seldom dries out until the cause is found. It can spoil decoration and plaster. Knowing whether it’s the flaunching, flashings, brickwork or ventilation means the right fix can be planned. For an older or listed building in a place like Hunsdonbury, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and which survey you book.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Hunsdonbury
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Package prices that include VAT
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
Nearby places to Hunsdonbury
What else we do in Hunsdonbury
Hunsdonbury questions
I let a flat near Roydon station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and letting agents book with us as well as owners. You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
How do I find out if my home in Hunsdonbury is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain is usually fine; heavy rain and wind are different. Strong wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. Shared stacks are common on terraced and semi-detached houses. We record the stack as far as we can see it and flag anything on the neighbour’s side.
How soon will I get the report?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. The report is emailed to you.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Do you work in Hunsdonbury?
Yes. We survey roofs in Hunsdonbury and the rest of Hertfordshire, as part of our work across London and South East England. To book, call 07833 053749 or email us.