Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in St Ibbs
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching across St Ibbs, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Get in touch for a price.
- A chimney out of line
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
Chimney survey in St Ibbs
If a chimney looks out of line, it is worth getting it checked. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, often after years of flue gases and damp. We record the lean and the condition of the brickwork and pointing. If the stack looks like a structural issue, the report recommends a structural engineer. If you are worried about gaps in the mortar around the pots and loose, cracked or missing pots, we can find out what’s behind it, on flaunching, lead flashings and shared and party-wall stacks alike.
In a small place like St Ibbs, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are frequently where weather gets in first.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Location
- St Ibbs (SG4)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about chimney surveys in St Ibbs
I let a flat near Hitchin station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
Is my home in St Ibbs listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
What’s in the report?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos. Points are put in order of urgency where relevant.
How do I book a survey in St Ibbs?
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know the address and what you’d like to know. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
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 records the likely cause.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Mention it when you contact us and we will explain what’s needed.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
Nearby places to St Ibbs
Other services in St Ibbs
Why it is worth a survey now in St Ibbs
A damp chimney breast seldom dries out until the cause is found. It can stain walls and damage plaster. Finding the cause means the right work can be planned. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like St Ibbs, driving rain gets into any weakness, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in St Ibbs
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- Surveys seven days a week
- Photos and a written report every time
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced or our case studies.
Landlords, agents and block managers in St Ibbs
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run seven days a week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out with the most urgent first where relevant, which helps when budgeting.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Common roof problems in St Ibbs
Years of fires can affect the mortar inside a stack. Mortar can deteriorate unevenly from flue gases and moisture, which can make a stack lean.
Common reasons to book include:
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
If you live in an older home near Church of St Ippolyts (church of England), the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Their report turnaround times
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Their insurance cover
- Is VAT included in the price?
When you need someone else
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Conditions inside walls
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- A structural engineer’s assessment
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will suggest the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in St Ibbs
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
Chimney surveys in St Ibbs: local notes
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. The wider area around St Ibbs has a long history of building, with Knebworth House about 4.1 miles south-east. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
For landlords with property near Hitchin station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. Anyone responsible for a site like St Ippolyts Church of England Aided Primary School will know that large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
St Ibbs is about 2 miles south of Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. We carry out chimney surveys in St Ibbs for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Across Hertfordshire, we cover St Ibbs and the places around it. There’s also a page for Milton Keynes.
Chimney surveys in SG4 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Sperberry Hill (1 mile north-east), Little Almshoe (1 mile south), St Ippolyts (1 mile north-east), Gosmore (1 mile north-west) and Titmore Green (1 mile east). Further out, we also cover Hemel Hempstead (15 miles south-west), Stevenage (4 miles east), St Albans (12 miles south), Welwyn Garden City (9 miles south), Harpenden (8 miles south-west) and Hatfield (11 miles south).
What’s near St Ibbs
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Hitchin Girls' School, The Bull Public House and Kingshott School. St Ibbs’s nearest station is Hitchin station, about 1.9 miles north. A little further out are Lister Hospital (2.1 miles east) and North Hertfordshire Museum (1.8 miles north). The countryside around St Ibbs includes Purwell Ninesprings and Markham's Hill.
The survey, step by step
You don’t need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, like stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll take it from there. A typical survey takes about one to two hours at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Older rural homes like those around St Ibbs can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We check every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
How to prepare
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Booking a survey
For a price for chimney surveys in St Ibbs, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. The address, the type of property and what you’d like to know help us give you an accurate price.