Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Poynders End
We carry out chimney surveys in Poynders End and the rest of Hertfordshire. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
About our chimney survey in Poynders End
Damp on a chimney breast can have several causes. It might come in at the top, through worn pointing or porous bricks, or where the flashings meet the roof. Moisture trapped inside a stack with no ventilation can also cause damp. We check each possibility and record what we find. You then know where to start. If you’ve noticed gaps where the stack meets the roof and damaged chimney pots and cowls, we can find out what’s behind it, on lead flashings, chimney breasts and chimney pots and cowls alike.
In a small place like Poynders End, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Poynders End (SG4)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
Towns and villages near Poynders End
Also in Poynders End
Common roof problems in Poynders End
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Mortar can deteriorate unevenly from flue gases and moisture, which can make a stack lean.
Look out for signs like these:
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- A chimney out of line
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
Take a building like Preston Primary School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
What to check before booking
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Are they insured for the work?
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Their track record with similar roofs
Tips that help
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Make sure fixings on the stack are secure
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer or builder. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo, so it’s easy to follow.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
How it works
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It usually takes between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. For a village or hamlet like Poynders End, the journey is planned ahead of time: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before the survey
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Let us know about parking before the day
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Related advice
Poynders End homes and their roofs
About 3.5 miles south-east lies Knebworth House, a reminder of how long the area around Poynders End has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. 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. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
For landlords with property near Stevenage station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. If you live in an older home near Church of St Martin, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Poynders End is about 3 miles south of Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. Poynders End gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful look at everything that’s safely in view, photos and a clear written report. We cover towns and villages across Hertfordshire. Our Milton Keynes page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: SG4. We also cover the places around Poynders End: Temple Dinsley (1 mile south-west), Preston (1 mile west), Langley End (1 mile south-east), Little Almshoe (1 mile north-east) and St Ibbs (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Hemel Hempstead (13 miles south-west), Stevenage (4 miles east), St Albans (11 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (8 miles south-east), Harpenden (7 miles south-west) and Hitchin (3 miles north).
Around Poynders End
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Red Lion Public House. For rail, the closest station is Stevenage station, about 2.8 miles east. Well-known places in the area include Wymondley Castle (2.8 miles north-east) and North Hertfordshire Museum (2.8 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Purwell Ninesprings and Markham's Hill.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Cracked flaunching and worn pointing are frequently modest repairs when they’re caught early. Leave it, and frost can work the stack loose and the job gets bigger. For older village homes like those around Poynders End, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
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 us in Poynders End
- Surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney pots and cowls
Damaged pots are a safety concern as well as a leak risk. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
Flaunching
We often find flaunching that has cracked or broken away. It’s normally a modest repair when it’s caught early.
Poynders End: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like Poynders End?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
I let a flat near Stevenage station. Can you check the roof?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
What should I do with a chimney I don’t use?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. We check how it’s capped and its condition, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
Do you need to go on the roof to check the chimney?
We inspect from wherever is safe: from the ground, windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there’s access. Our Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where applicable. We note anything we couldn’t see.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you will need a RICS survey as well.
Will you go up on the roof?
Not always. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs can’t always be walked on. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where it applies let us see the rest.