Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in St Margarets, Hertfordshire
Independent chimney surveys in St Margarets. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- A stack that appears to lean
- Worn or missing pointing
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
What we’re asked to look at in St Margarets
A stack takes the weather from every direction. Frost works into cracks in the flaunching and pointing, and rain soaks into worn brickwork. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
For an older house near a landmark such as Parish Church of St Andrew, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What the survey will not cover
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What exactly goes into their report
About our chimney survey in St Margarets
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. Even when it isn’t used, a stack has to stay weathertight. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. You get photos of each stack and our recommendations. We survey flaunching, brick chimney stacks and chimney breasts, and people most often book us about staining on walls around the chimney and frost-damaged brickwork on the stack.
Village roofs often 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 roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly.
- Place
- St Margarets (SG12)
- Wider area
- Hertfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near St Margarets
More services for St Margarets
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joint between the stack and the roof. We check for lifting, splits and gaps in the joints.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Where a breast has been taken out, we check what supports the stack. Confirming the support is a job for a structural engineer.
Local roofs in St Margarets
In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. If your home is older, it’s worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas.
If you look after a building like The Cranbourne Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. If you let a flat or house near St Margarets (Herts) station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
St Margarets is about 2 miles south-east of Ware, in Hertfordshire. St Margarets is one of many places we visit across Hertfordshire. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire. Our London page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in SG12 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include Station Road, Woodham Way and Folly View, all of which we cover. We also cover the places around St Margarets: Stanstead Abbotts (1 mile east), Great Amwell (1 mile north-west), Hailey (1 mile south-west), Little Amwell (1 mile west) and Woollensbrook (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Stevenage (11 miles north-west), St Albans (14 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (9 miles north-east), Welwyn Garden City (8 miles west), Harpenden (15 miles west) and Cheshunt (6 miles south).
Near you in St Margarets
Around St Margarets, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The John Warner School and Jolly Fisherman Public House. There’s a railway station in St Margarets itself: St Margarets (Herts) station. Well-known places in the area include Barrowfield (2.1 miles north-west) and Museum of Street Lighting (1 mile north-west). Green spaces nearby include Amwell Quarry.
The survey, step by step
You do not need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Older roofs in small places like St Margarets can have low, tight loft spaces, so it is useful to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- 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.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
How to prepare
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Arrange a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Common questions in St Margarets
Can a landlord with a rental near St Margarets (Herts) station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and letting agents book with us as well as owners. You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details, including who will give access on the day.
How do I find out if my home in St Margarets is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
It depends on its condition and your plans. We record how the stack is doing and whether it’s capped with ventilation. If you are thinking of removing it, check with the council first in a conservation area or on a listed building.
Will you go up on the roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
Will I get photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. Roofs over flats are often shared, so the freeholder or managing agent needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we are allowed to reach.
Do you cover St Margarets?
Yes. We survey roofs in St Margarets and the rest of Hertfordshire, as part of our work across London and the South East. For a price, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Survey packages start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Height and safe access
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
Every price we give includes VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for your survey before you book.
What to let us know when you contact us
A little information up front helps. It helps to include:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Why get it checked now?
Damp in a chimney breast usually gets worse while the cause is left. It can spoil decoration and plaster. Knowing whether it is the flaunching, flashings, brickwork or ventilation means the right fix can be planned. In a place like St Margarets, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It is worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Prices quoted always include 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 book us in St Margarets
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Clear package prices, including VAT
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
When you need someone else
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in St Margarets
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks