Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Tonwell Chimney Survey
Find out what’s going on with the chimney stack before you spend money on it. We carry out chimney surveys in Tonwell.
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
Questions from Tonwell
Is Tonwell within the area you cover?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Can a landlord with a rental near Ware station book a roof survey?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the building, including who will give access on the day.
Does someone need to be in?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you when you book.
How can you see the top of the stack?
We use safe viewpoints rather than climbing onto the stack. Where applicable, our Premium Survey adds a drone inspection for a closer view. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
The whole stack, as far as it can be seen safely: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings. Leaning, unused stacks and damp on chimney breasts are recorded too.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
How fast do I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. Mention any deadline when booking.
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Tonwell
Redundant chimneys are common, especially where fires have been replaced by central heating. Even when it is not used, a stack has to stay weathertight. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. If you’re worried about damp patches on chimney breasts and damaged chimney pots and cowls, we can find out what’s behind it, on lead flashings, chimney pots and cowls and chimney breasts alike.
In a small place like Tonwell, 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 roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Place
- Tonwell (SG12)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Tonwell
Also in Tonwell
Why get it checked now?
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. Older cottages and farmhouses around Tonwell can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we can help you choose.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Tonwell
- Visits on any day of the week
- 20+ years’ experience
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- PI and public liability insurance
Read our cost guide or two real surveys.
What we are asked to look at in Tonwell
TV aerials, satellite dishes and their brackets are often fixed to chimneys. The extra load in wind can work bricks and joints loose. Any fixings on the stack are checked and recorded.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Worn or missing pointing
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
Anyone responsible for a site like Tonwell St Mary's Church of England Primary School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Are they insured for the work?
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Is VAT included in the price?
Chimney surveys in Tonwell: local notes
Historic houses such as Aston Bury, about 4.6 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Tonwell goes. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
If you let a flat or house near Ware station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Tonwell is about 2 miles north-west of Ware, in Hertfordshire. Tonwell is one of many places we visit across Hertfordshire, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Across Hertfordshire, we cover Tonwell. There’s also a page for London.
We survey roofs across the SG12 postcode area for chimney surveys and the streets around it. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Ware Road, Temple Lane and Bourne Honour. If you’re just outside Tonwell, we cover Chapmore End (1 mile south), Sacombe (1 mile north), Thundridge (2 miles east), Wadesmill (2 miles east) and Sacombe Green (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Stevenage (7 miles north-west), St Albans (13 miles south-west), Bishop's Stortford (10 miles east), Welwyn Garden City (6 miles south-west), Harpenden (12 miles west) and Hitchin (12 miles north-west).
Around Tonwell
Around Tonwell, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Robin Hood & Little John pub and Chauncy School. The nearest railway station is Ware station, roughly 2.5 miles south-east. Nearby you’ll also find Hertford County Hospital (3 miles south) and Barrowfield (2.7 miles south). Not far away are King's Meads.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Tonwell
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the chimney stack, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed in advance. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
The survey, step by step
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the loft space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey usually takes about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. For a village or hamlet like Tonwell, the journey is planned in advance: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect what can safely be seen, inside and out.
- 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.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
How to prepare
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
Arrange a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Roof by roof
Chimney pots and cowls
Damaged pots are a safety concern as well as a leak risk. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Inside, chimney breasts can show damp when water gets into the stack. We check the breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Which survey package you book
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the exact price before you book.
Booking your survey
A little information up front helps. It’s useful to include:
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- The address and postcode of the property
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.