Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Rooks Nest Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Rooks Nest, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- A stack that appears to lean
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
How a chimney survey works in Rooks Nest
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: the pots and cowls, the flaunching on top, the pointing, the brickwork and the flashings where it meets the roof. Inside, we check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft where it’s safe to reach. The findings come in a written report with photos and recommendations. We survey single stacks on houses and groups of stacks on bigger buildings. We’re often asked to look into cracked or missing flaunching and bricks with flaking faces, across brick chimney stacks, chimney breasts and lead flashings.
In a small place like Rooks Nest, 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 roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are frequently where weather gets in first.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Location
- Rooks Nest (SG1)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Cottages and farmhouses around Rooks Nest often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- 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.
How to prepare
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Arrange a survey
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email, and we will ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
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Why it’s worth a survey now in Rooks Nest
Before deciding what to do with a redundant stack, a survey shows how it’s doing. Changes to stacks in conservation areas or on listed buildings may need consent, so check with them first. For older village homes like those around Rooks Nest, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both including VAT. You will know the price for your roof before booking.
What you get with us
- An independent look at the roof
- Prices that include VAT
- Surveys seven days a week
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
Your questions about chimney surveys in Rooks Nest
My home in Rooks Nest has a flat-roofed garage or porch. Is it worth having that looked at?
It’s often worth it, as these roofs are easy to forget. On buildings from before 2000, cement sheet roofs may contain asbestos and should be checked by a specialist asbestos surveyor before anyone disturbs them.
I let a flat near Stevenage station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, that’s a common request. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
Damp on a chimney breast normally means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. The survey looks at the stack, the flashings and the capping, and record what we find.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. A flue inspection, sweep or gas safety check is a separate job. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain does not normally stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions are not right we’ll arrange another day with you.
Will you check the loft?
Where it’s relevant to the survey and there’s safe access, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
Each stack is viewed from the safest viewpoints: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the loft space. A drone inspection is included in our Premium Survey where applicable. If part of a stack cannot be seen, the report says so.
Can I check my roof myself?
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Rooks Nest
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Rooks Nest. For a price for a let property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the chimney stack, useful for planning maintenance.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Rooks Nest
In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. With Aston Bury about 3.7 miles south-east, Rooks Nest sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you let a flat or house near Stevenage station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. If you look after a building such as Trotts Hill Primary and Nursery School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of Saint Nicholas, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Rooks Nest is about 1 mile north of Stevenage, in Hertfordshire. From houses to flats and shops in Rooks Nest, we can survey the roof. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire, large and small. Milton Keynes is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: SG1. Other places close to Rooks Nest include St Nicholas (1 mile east), Pin Green (1 mile south), Stevenage (1 mile south), Chells (1 mile south-east) and Bedwell (1 mile south). We also work in nearby towns like St Albans (13 miles south-west), Bishop's Stortford (15 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (9 miles south), Harpenden (10 miles south-west), Hitchin (4 miles north-west) and Hoddesdon (14 miles south-east).
Around Rooks Nest
Around Rooks Nest, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Barclay School, Marquis of Granby pub and The John Henry Newman School. The closest station to Rooks Nest is Stevenage station, roughly 1.7 miles south-west. Other landmarks nearby include Stevenage Museum (1.6 miles south) and Wymondley Castle (2.1 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Pryor's Wood.
What this survey can’t tell you
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:
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
Other services in Rooks Nest
How we price chimney surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, and it comes down to:
- Roof area
- Which survey package you book
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What to let us know when you contact us
Before you get in touch, it’s useful to have:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- What’s prompted the survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.