Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Ridge Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys around Ridge, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Ridge
Each stack is looked at from the safest viewpoints available: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the roof space where it’s safe. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where it applies. Where part of a stack cannot be seen, the report says so. Each defect is recorded with a photo and a plain description. We are frequently asked to look into mortar washing out of the joints and flaunching that has broken away, on brick chimney stacks, chimney pots and cowls and chimney breasts.
Older buildings in small places like Ridge 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 like clay tiles, slate and stone are frequently matched when work is done.
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.
- Place
- Ridge (EN6)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
It is a careful look at the chimney stack, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
What happens on the day
Safety comes first on every visit. We inspect what can be seen safely, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. The survey usually takes roughly 1–2 hours for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Rural addresses near Ridge can be hard to find from a postcode alone, 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.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Booking a survey
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
What else we do in Ridge
Common questions in Ridge
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Ridge?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Potters Bar station?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you need.
Do you work in Ridge?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, Ridge included.
When does the report arrive?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. Reports are sent by email.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report. We’ll recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
We look from the ground, from windows and from the loft where it is safe. Where it applies, our Premium Survey adds a drone inspection for a closer view. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
What a chimney survey looks like in Ridge
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. The wider area around Ridge has a long history of building, with Wyllyotts Manor about 2.2 miles east. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Margaret are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. For businesses in and around places like Spires Shopping Centre, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies.
Ridge is about 2 miles north-east of Borehamwood, in Hertfordshire. We survey roofs in Ridge as part of our work across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across Hertfordshire, large and small. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the EN6 postcode area for chimney surveys. Whether your property is on Crossoaks Lane, Deeves Hall Lane and Blanche Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover the places around Ridge: South Mimms (1 mile north-east), Dancers Hill (1 mile south-east), Well End (1 mile south), Green Street (2 miles south-west) and Shenley (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Watford (7 miles west), Hemel Hempstead (10 miles north-west), Stevenage (15 miles north), St Albans (6 miles north-west), Welwyn Garden City (8 miles north) and Harpenden (10 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Ridge
We work in homes and buildings around Manor Lodge School, Dame Alice Owen's School and North Mimms Park, among other places. The nearest railway station is Potters Bar station, roughly 2.3 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Hilfield Castle (4.6 miles south-west) and Hertfordshire Scout Museum (1.4 miles south-west). Not far away are Darland's Lake and Furzefield Wood and Lower Halfpenny.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, from shops and offices to industrial units. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
Do you need a chimney survey in Ridge?
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We record what we can see in the loft and outside, and recommend a structural engineer where support is in question.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
If you let a flat or house near Potters Bar station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Questions to ask before you book
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- How soon the report will arrive
What happens if roof problems are left?
Damp in a chimney breast usually gets worse while the cause is left. It can spoil decoration and plaster. Finding the cause means the right work can be planned. Matching old materials, like handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why us?
- PI and public liability insurance
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- An independent view of the roof
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or two real surveys.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.