Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Newnham, Hertfordshire
Find out the condition of the chimney stack at your property in Newnham from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
Can I check my roof myself?
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when booking.
Chimney survey in Newnham
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. Even when it isn’t used, a stack has to stay weathertight. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. You get photos of each stack and our recommendations. We survey shared and party-wall stacks, chimney breasts and chimney pots and cowls, and people most often book us about frost-damaged brickwork on the stack and staining on walls around the chimney.
Some older homes in villages like Newnham are 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. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is frequently expected.
If any part of the chimney stack couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Newnham (SG7)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Check your stacks from ground level after strong winds
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
If anything in the report isn’t clear, just ask us. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Make sure redundant flues are capped with ventilation. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney pots and cowls
Each pot is bedded into the flaunching, frequently with a cowl or cap on top. We check that they look secure and undamaged.
Brick stacks
Many older stacks were built with lime mortar. We note where repairs should match the original mortar.
Newnham: your questions answered
Is Newnham within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
How do I find out if my home in Newnham is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
Every part of the stack we can see from safe positions: from the pots and flaunching down to the flashings. We also note leaning, redundant stacks and damp inside.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years, across London and South East England.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones cannot fly safely in strong wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions aren’t right, we’ll talk to you about another date.
Towns and villages near Newnham
More services for Newnham
What we do, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photos, sent to you by email. On timing, it normally takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. In a hamlet or village like Newnham, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We check every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Before the survey
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
Getting a price
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
Surveys for landlords and agents in Newnham
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
Why get it checked now?
A loose pot or brick can fall from height. A survey picks them out so they can be made safe by a suitable contractor. For an older or listed building in a place like Newnham, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Newnham
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- 20+ years’ experience
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Surveys seven days a week
Read how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
Chimney surveys around Newnham
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. Whatever the covering, it is frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. With Hinxworth Place about 1.4 miles north, Newnham sits in an area with a long building history. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Vincent, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. Anyone responsible for a site like The Knights Templar School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. For landlords with property near Baldock station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Newnham is about 3 miles north-east of Letchworth, in Hertfordshire. Newnham gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a proper look at everything that’s safely in view, photographs and a clear written report. We cover towns and villages across Hertfordshire, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Milton Keynes page.
Chimney surveys in SG7 are booked the same way as anywhere else. You will find streets like Ashwell Road and Caldecote Road, all of which we cover. We also cover Caldecote (1 mile north-west), Bygrave (2 miles south-east), Ashwell End (2 miles north), Bury End (2 miles north) and Ashwell (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Stevenage (8 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (15 miles south), Hitchin (6 miles south-west), Letchworth (4 miles south-west), Letchworth Garden City (4 miles south-west) and Benslow (6 miles south-west).
Near you in Newnham
The nearest railway station is Baldock station, roughly 2 miles south. A little further out are Bygrave House (1.5 miles south-east) and Fairfield Hospital (3 miles south-west). Open spaces near Newnham include Arlesey Old Moat and Glebe Meadows.