Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Startop's End, Hertfordshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Startop's End, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- Worn or missing pointing
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
What a survey costs
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- How big the roof is
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Getting in touch
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, it is useful to mention:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Startop's End
A leaning chimney stack is worth having looked at. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, often after years of flue gases and damp. The survey notes how the stack looks, how far it seems to lean and the state of the bricks and joints. If the stack looks like a structural issue, the report recommends a structural engineer. We survey flaunching, chimney pots and cowls and lead flashings, and people most often book us about flashings pulling away from the stack and worn or missing pointing.
In a village or hamlet like Startop's End, older cottages and farmhouses often 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. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs frequently need the most attention.
Where we cannot see part of the chimney stack, the report says so. That way, it’s clear what was covered and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Startop's End (HP23)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Do you need a chimney survey in Startop's End?
Years of fires can affect the mortar inside a stack. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which is one reason stacks start to lean.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Signs that a stack is leaning
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Marsworth Church of England Infant School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What happens after the report arrives
How the survey works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we listen to what’s been worrying you, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, take photographs as we go and record our findings for the written report. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Older roofs in small places like Startop's End can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We look at 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Book a survey
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
Read more
Startop's End: your questions answered
Is Startop's End within the area you cover?
Yes, Startop's End is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Tring station?
Yes, letting agents and landlords book with us as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the building, including who will give access on the day.
What insurance do you have?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in, while outside access can be discussed when booking.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. If it is capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. Our survey records its condition and how it is capped, so you can plan what to do with it.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
We check the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings. Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. Everything is written up with photos.
More services for Startop's End
Leave it or get it looked at?
A leaning stack should be looked at sooner rather than later. Our survey records it and says when a structural engineer should look at it, so you can decide what to do next. For older village homes like those around Startop's End, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Every price we give includes VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for your survey before you book.
Why us?
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
For landlords and managing agents
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
Letting agents and landlords in Startop's End book surveys as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the chimney stack, with photographs, useful for planning maintenance.
Useful tips for Startop's End property owners
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Check your stacks from ground level after strong winds
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. It shows what we found and where, as far as we could see.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. Early signs are easier to trace.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Startop's End
Historic houses such as Cholesbury Manor House, about 4.4 miles south, show how far back building in the area around Startop's End goes. 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. 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.
Landlords with a home close to Tring station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. Take an older house close to Church of All Saints: its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Startop's End is about 1 mile north of Tring, in Hertfordshire. We provide chimney surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Startop's End. Our area takes in places right across Hertfordshire, large and small. There is also a page for Milton Keynes.
We work across the HP23 postcode area for chimney surveys. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Watery Lane, Lukes Lea and Marsworth Wharf and the roads around them. We also cover Marsworth (1 mile north-east), Tringford (1 mile south), Wilstone (1 mile west), Bulbourne (1 mile east) and Gubblecote (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Hemel Hempstead (10 miles south-east), St Albans (15 miles east), Harpenden (14 miles east), Berkhamsted (6 miles south-east), Rickmansworth (15 miles south-east) and Chorleywood (14 miles south-east).
Near you in Startop's End
In Startop's End, that means homes and buildings near The Angler's Retreat pub and Tring School. For rail, the closest station is Tring station, about 2.3 miles south-east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Tindal Centre (5.8 miles west) and Pitstone Green Museum (1.5 miles north-east). The countryside around Startop's End includes College Lake nature reserve and Ivinghoe Beacon.