Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Ware, Hertfordshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Ware, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- A stack that appears to lean
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Lifted or split lead flashings
About our chimney survey in Ware
A damp patch on a chimney breast doesn’t always come from the same place. It might come in at the top, through worn pointing or porous bricks, or where the flashings meet the roof. Moisture trapped inside a stack with no ventilation can also cause damp. We check each possibility and record what we find. That points the work in the right direction. Typical surveys look at disused chimneys trapping moisture and mortar washing out of the joints, on chimney breasts, lead flashings and brick chimney stacks.
Around Ware, semis and terraces share chimneys, gutters and roof lines with the house next door. A shared chimney stack or a gutter run across two houses means a defect may sit partly on someone else’s property. We can only inspect what we have access to, so shared parts are reported as far as they can be seen safely. Let us know as you book if you know of anything shared with next door.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- Ware (SG12, SG9)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the price in Ware
We confirm the price for your roof before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- House, block, shop or office
- The size of the roof
- Height and safe access
- The shape of the roof and its details
For a price for your roof in Ware, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and some details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
What to let us know when you contact us
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, it helps to mention:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The kind of building and roof involved
- When you need the report by
- Where the property is, with the postcode
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or send us an email when you’re ready.
Signs you need a chimney survey in Ware
Where a chimney meets the roof, lead flashings keep water out. With age they can lift, split or come away from the joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Cracked or missing flaunching
If you own a rental within reach of Ware station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
What to check before booking
- What happens after the report arrives
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Which limits apply to the survey
How the survey works
There is not much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll take it from there. A typical survey takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. In Ware, parking is rarely complicated, though it helps to know about driveways or restrictions. The inspection covers everything that’s safely in view from outside, from windows and from the roof space, and from the roof itself where it is safe.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- 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.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Before the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
How to book
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will ask a few questions about the roof. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Advice
Why get it checked now?
If a stack seems to lean, don’t leave it. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you know where you stand. On homes in Ware, the joint between an extension and the house is where a slow leak tends to start. Left for a few seasons, it can spoil plaster, skirting and flooring inside.
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Why book with us
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Plain-English reports with photos
Local roofs in Ware
Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. If your home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission, so check with the council.
The streets around a church such as Christ Church Ware are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. Take a building like Christ Church CofE (VA) Primary School and Nursery: long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Ware is about 7 miles north-west of Harlow, in Hertfordshire. We survey roofs in Ware and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Ware is one of the towns and villages in Hertfordshire where we work for chimney surveys. We also survey roofs in London.
We work across SG12 and SG9 for chimney surveys and the streets around it. We offer chimney surveys to properties on High Street, Station Road and London Road. Ware sits on or near the A10 and A119, which makes travel easy. If you are just outside Ware, we cover Thundridge (1 mile north), Cold Christmas (2 miles north-east), Wadesmill (2 miles north), Chapmore End (2 miles north-west) and Tonwell (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Stevenage (9 miles north-west), St Albans (13 miles west), Bishop's Stortford (9 miles north-east), Welwyn Garden City (7 miles west), Harpenden (14 miles west) and Hitchin (14 miles north-west).
Near you in Ware
Around Ware, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Hertford Regional College, The Chauncy School and The Albion Public House and the streets around them. There is a railway station in Ware itself: Ware station. Well-known places in the area include Barrowfield (1.2 miles south-west) and Hertford County Hospital (2.8 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include King's Meads.
Nearby places to Ware
Other services in Ware
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
Rendered stacks
Cracked render can let water in and trap it behind. Cracks are photographed and noted.
DIY checks: what’s safe
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
FAQs for Ware
Is Ware in the area you cover?
Yes, Ware is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
I let a flat near Ware station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you need.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. Shared stacks are common on terraced and semi-detached houses. We survey what we can see safely, and note anything that seems to involve next door.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
Have it checked rather than leaving it. Leaning often comes from mortar breaking down unevenly. We record its condition with photographs, and a structural engineer can assess whether it needs work.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed, and anything out of sight is recorded in the report.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain does not usually stop a survey. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we will agree a new date if the weather isn’t suitable.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years, and 98% of customers are satisfied.