Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Old Knebworth Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys in Old Knebworth from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- A chimney out of line
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Staining on walls around the chimney
How it works
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we look at everything we can see safely. The survey typically takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Around Old Knebworth, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We check every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- 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.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Getting a price
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Old Knebworth
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. Even when it is not used, a stack has to stay weathertight. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. We survey chimney breasts, chimney pots and cowls and flaunching, and common reasons people get in touch are flashings pulling away from the stack and damp patches on chimney breasts.
Somewhere as small as Old Knebworth, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it is usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
It isn’t only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend.
- Location
- Old Knebworth (SG3)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Old Knebworth questions
Is Old Knebworth within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
How do I find out if my home in Old Knebworth is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. Photographs are taken throughout the survey, and the report uses them to show each finding alongside our recommendations.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
Have it checked rather than leaving it. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down. The survey records what we can see, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it is stable.
How long is the visit?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof; most visits take about 1–2 hours at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. We inspect what can be seen safely and what you give us access to. Where a problem appears to be on next door’s side, we note it and you can raise it with them.
What does the report include?
A written report with photos, covering the condition of the chimney stack, the defects we found and what we recommend. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney breasts and the loft
Stains on timbers or brickwork around the stack can point to a leak. We record what we see with photos.
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
Do you need a chimney survey in Old Knebworth?
Chimney stacks stand above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Frost opens up cracks in the mortar, and rain gets into worn bricks and joints. People typically call us when they notice damp or a problem with the stack, or before a purchase.
Problems we come across often include:
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Cracked or missing flaunching
If you let a flat or house near Knebworth station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- What happens after the report arrives
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Their track record with similar roofs
Chimney surveys in Old Knebworth: local notes
Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Whatever the covering, it is frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. The wider area around Old Knebworth has a long history of building, with Knebworth House about 0.2 miles north-west. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
Trees in and around Knebworth Park shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching. Anyone responsible for a site like Barnwell School will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Old Knebworth is about 3 miles south-west of Stevenage, in Hertfordshire. Surveys in Old Knebworth work the same way as everywhere we cover: a proper look at what can safely be seen, photographs and a clear written report. Old Knebworth is one of the towns and villages in Hertfordshire where we work for chimney surveys. There’s also a page for London.
We survey roofs across the SG3 postcode area for chimney surveys. You will find streets such as Old Knebworth Lane and Park Lane. Close by, we survey roofs in Nup End Green (1 mile south-west), Driver's End (1 mile south-west), Rableyheath (1 mile south), Pottersheath (1 mile south) and Langley (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Hemel Hempstead (13 miles south-west), Stevenage (3 miles north-east), St Albans (10 miles south-west), Welwyn Garden City (5 miles south), Harpenden (7 miles south-west) and Hitchin (6 miles north-west).
Landmarks near Old Knebworth
Around Old Knebworth, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Knebworth Park and Robin Hood And Little John Public House. The closest station to Old Knebworth is Knebworth station, roughly 1 mile east. A little further out are Lister Hospital (3.7 miles north) and Stevenage Museum (2.2 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Mardley Heath.
Practical tips
Getting the most from a chimney survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Make sure fixings on the stack are secure
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
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.
Get small mortar repairs done while they’re small. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
Nearby places to Old Knebworth
What else we do in Old Knebworth
When you need someone else
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will recommend the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
What affects the price in Old Knebworth
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- The roof’s overall size
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, from £400 with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
What we need to know
Before you get in touch, it is useful to have:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
If you are buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.