Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Smallford
Chimney surveys across Smallford, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- A stack that appears to lean
Smallford homes and their roofs
Smallford is part of Hatfield, one of the post-war new towns. Homes from the post-war decades are common in the new towns, many with low-pitched roofs in concrete tiles and flat-roofed garages or porches. On homes of that age, felt underlay, flat roofs, gutters and fixings may all be due attention. Hatfield House, about 2.7 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Smallford. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters.
Anyone responsible for a site like Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle. If you live near a park such as Highfield Park, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching. If you let a flat or house near Hatfield station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Smallford is about 2 miles west of Hatfield, in Hertfordshire. Smallford is part of the area we cover as part of our work across London and South East England. Smallford is one of the towns and villages in Hertfordshire we cover for chimney surveys. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in AL4 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Streets in the area include Jove Gardens, Lawrence Close and Oaklands Lane, all of which we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Sleapshyde (1 mile south-east), Cooper's Green (1 mile north), Jersey Farm (1 mile north-west), Colney Heath (1 mile south-east) and Tyttenhanger (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Watford (8 miles south-west), Hemel Hempstead (8 miles west), Stevenage (11 miles north), Welwyn Garden City (4 miles north-east), Harpenden (5 miles north-west) and Hitchin (13 miles north).
Local landmarks in Smallford
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Three Horseshoes Public House, Highfield Park and Colney Heath Junior Mixed Infant and Nursery School. Smallford’s nearest station is Hatfield station, about 2.4 miles east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Hill End Hospital (1.4 miles south-west) and The Bunker at Hatfield Police Station (1.5 miles north-east). For a walk, there is Verulamium Lake and Colney Heath Local Nature Reserve.
Chimney survey in Smallford
A chimney survey looks at the stack and everything around it: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and the flashings at the roof line. We also look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. You get a written report with photos and our recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. We survey shared and party-wall stacks, chimney pots and cowls and flaunching, and people most often book us about lifted or split lead flashings and bricks with flaking faces.
In a village or hamlet like Smallford, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it is usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
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, for example when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Place
- Smallford (AL4)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Smallford. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
How the survey changes by roof type
Rendered stacks
We cannot see the bricks behind render without it being opened up, so the report says what can and can’t be judged.
Brick stacks
Many older stacks were built with lime mortar. Repairs should suit the original materials, which we mention where relevant.
Tips that help
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
Questions about the findings are always welcome. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
The survey, step by step
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey typically takes about 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. For a village or hamlet like Smallford, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We check 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.
How to prepare
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Keep pets in another room
How to book
We confirm the price for your roof before booking, so you know the cost up front. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Smallford: your questions answered
Can a landlord with a rental near Hatfield station book a roof survey?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you need.
My home in Smallford has a flat-roofed garage or porch. Is it worth having that looked at?
Often, yes, so mention it as you book. Many homes in new towns like Hatfield have flat-roofed garages and porches, and felt roofs often last around 15–20 years.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
How much is a survey?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. Many houses share stacks with a neighbour. We survey what we can see safely, and note anything that seems to involve next door.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. We check how it is capped and its condition, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
Do you cover Smallford for chimney surveys?
Yes. We survey roofs in Smallford and the rest of Hertfordshire. For a price, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
What a survey costs
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Roof area
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can be seen safely and which survey you book.
Helping us price your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- The property’s address and postcode
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.