Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Leavesden
Wondering about the chimney stack at a property in Leavesden? We carry out chimney surveys in Leavesden and across Hertfordshire.
- A stack that appears to lean
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Cracked or missing flaunching
About our chimney survey in Leavesden
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. On older stacks, we often find cracked flaunching, loose flashings and worn pointing. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. We survey lead flashings, chimney breasts and shared and party-wall stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are signs that a stack is leaning and damp on a chimney breast inside.
In a smaller place like Leavesden, homes range from older cottages to bungalows and newer houses. Coverings range from slate and clay tiles on older homes to concrete tiles on many later ones. On older homes, chimney stacks, valleys and gutters are usually where the work is, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. Nails and battens under older coverings often give out before the slates or tiles themselves.
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
- Leavesden (WD25, WD5)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
When to book a survey in Leavesden
The flaunching on top of a stack holds the pots in place and sheds water. Cracked flaunching lets water in, and each winter makes it worse. In time, the pots can become loose.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
If you live in an older home near Church of All Saints, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Before you book anyone
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Whether VAT is added on top
Leavesden: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Leavesden?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Can a landlord with a rental near Garston station book a roof survey?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
How much does a chimney survey cost in Leavesden?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking. For a price, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers. We will recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
How do I book a survey in Leavesden?
The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or email us. Give us the address and a few details about the roof. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
There is no single answer. The survey shows its condition and how it’s been capped. If you’re thinking of removing it, check with the council first in a conservation area or on a listed building.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Damp in a chimney breast usually gets worse while the cause is left. It can stain walls and damage plaster. Finding the cause means the right work can be planned. On a bungalow or cottage around Leavesden, the roof sits close to the rooms below, so a small leak can mark a ceiling within a few storms. Finding the cause first saves a second job inside.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the exact price before you book.
Why book us in Leavesden
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Every finding written up with photos
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We record their condition with photos.
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. We record any cracking and where it is.
Other services in Leavesden
How we price chimney surveys
Prices always include VAT. What changes the price is:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How big the roof is
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
What to tell us when you get in touch
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, let us know:
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Leavesden homes and their roofs
Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. The wider area around Leavesden has a long history of building, with High Elms Manor about 0.4 miles north-east. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near Charter Place, a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions. If you live near a park like Woodside Playing Fields, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Leavesden is about 2 miles north of Watford, in Hertfordshire. Anywhere in Leavesden, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our Hertfordshire coverage includes Leavesden and the places around it. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in WD25 and WD5 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Forest Road, Langley Lane and Sheepcot Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. Leavesden is on the A405, which makes it straightforward to reach. We also cover Garston (1 mile south-east), Meriden (1 mile south-east), North Watford (2 miles south), Watford (2 miles south) and Aldenham (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Hemel Hempstead (5 miles north-west), St Albans (5 miles north-east), Welwyn Garden City (11 miles north-east), Harpenden (9 miles north), Cheshunt (15 miles east) and Hatfield (8 miles north-east).
What’s near Leavesden
Around Leavesden, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Woodside Playing Fields and Francis Combe Academy and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Garston station, about 1 mile south-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Hertfordshire Fire Brigade Museum (3.1 miles south) and Hilfield Castle (4.1 miles south-east). Open spaces near Leavesden include Longspring Wood and Verulamium Lake.
For landlords and managing agents
Landlords and letting agents in Leavesden book surveys as well as householders. A report with photographs gives you a clear record of the chimney stack.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters, which helps with budgets and planning.
The survey, step by step
You do not need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Homes around Leavesden often have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. Inside, the loft is looked at where it can be reached safely.
- You let us know how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- The stacks are looked at from the ground, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Where there’s safe access, we look at the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- The findings are written up with photos and recommendations and emailed to you.
Before we arrive
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Keep pets in another room
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
How to book
We confirm the price for the job before you book, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.