Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Spellbrook, Hertfordshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Spellbrook, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- A stack that appears to lean
- Cracked or missing flaunching
Chimney survey in Spellbrook
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It is not a flue inspection, a chimney sweep or a gas safety inspection. For the flue itself, you’ll need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. We’ll tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. We survey chimney breasts, brick chimney stacks and chimney pots and cowls, and people most often book us about cracked or missing flaunching and flashings pulling away from the stack.
Village roofs frequently face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. 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. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Where
- Spellbrook (CM23, CM22)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. In a small place like Spellbrook, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can safely be seen.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Where there is safe access, we check the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- You get a report with photos and our recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Jot down any questions you want answered
How to book
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or email us, let us know about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Advice
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
Before and after the survey
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
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 is easy to follow.
Look at your chimneys from the ground now and then, especially after strong winds. With binoculars, you can frequently see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.
Chimney surveys around Spellbrook
Much Hadham Palace, about 3.8 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Spellbrook. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
Take an older house close to Church of St Mary the Virgin: its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. For landlords with property near Sawbridgeworth station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Spellbrook CofE Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Spellbrook is about 2 miles south of Bishop's Stortford, in Hertfordshire. Spellbrook is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and South East England. Spellbrook is one of the towns and villages in Hertfordshire where we work for chimney surveys. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: CM23 and CM22. You’ll find streets such as Oram Court, Spellbrook Lane East and Spellbrook Lane West, and we cover them all. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Gaston Green (1 mile east), Little Hallingbury (1 mile east), Thorley Street (1 mile north), Thorley (1 mile north-west) and Sawbridgeworth (2 miles south). Further out, we also cover Stevenage (15 miles west), Welwyn Garden City (15 miles west), Hoddesdon (9 miles south-west), Cheshunt (12 miles south-west), Hertford (10 miles west) and Ware (8 miles west).
What’s near Spellbrook
Typical jobs here are in homes near Leventhorpe and The George pub, among other places. Spellbrook’s nearest station is Sawbridgeworth station, roughly 1.5 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Harlow Mill (3.4 miles south-west) and Henry Moore Studios and Gardens (3 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Thorley Wash nature reserve and Portingbury Hills.
How the survey changes by roof type
Flaunching
Flaunching is the mortar on top of a stack that holds the pots and sheds water. Cracks in it let water into the stack.
Brick stacks
Older brick stacks often have soft lime mortar. We note where repairs should match the original mortar.
Places near Spellbrook
Also in Spellbrook
Landlords, agents and block managers in Spellbrook
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- House, block, shop or office
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- The size of the roof
All our prices include VAT. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for the job before you book.
Booking your survey
There’s no need for technical words. It is enough to let us know:
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Questions from Spellbrook
Do you cover smaller places like Spellbrook?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Sawbridgeworth station?
Yes, that is a common request. We just need to know who will give access, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
How do I arrange a chimney survey in Spellbrook?
Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address. We will ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date, weekday or weekend.
How quickly is the report sent?
That depends on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. The report is emailed to you.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you when you book.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
How long is the visit?
Time on site depends on the roof; most visits take between one and two hours for most houses, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. The report is sent afterwards by email.