Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Wareside, Hertfordshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Wareside, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Call or email for a price.
- A stack that appears to lean
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
How the survey works
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Older rural homes like those around Wareside can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can safely be seen.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access.
- You get a written report with photographs and our recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Book a survey
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before you book.
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About our chimney survey in Wareside
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. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. We survey flaunching, chimney pots and cowls and chimney breasts, and the problems we are asked to look at most are a stack that appears to lean and disused chimneys trapping moisture.
Some older homes in villages like Wareside are listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials like clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
What you get is a clear record of the chimney stack on the day we saw it. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later.
- Where
- Wareside (SG12)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips that help
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
You get the report by email and can pass it to whoever does the work. We use plain English and a photo for each defect so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked, and moved if they’re working it loose. Less load on the stack means less strain in wind.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.
Common questions in Wareside
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Wareside?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
I let a flat near Ware station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
How can you see the top of the stack?
We use safe viewpoints rather than climbing onto the stack. Where it applies, our Premium Survey adds a drone inspection for a closer view. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
How long is the visit?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof; most visits take between one and two hours at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. The written report follows by email.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
Have it checked rather than leaving it. Leaning often comes from mortar breaking down unevenly. We record its condition with photos, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it is stable.
What does a chimney survey cover?
We check the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings. Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access. You get a written report with photos.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, so it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Wareside
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Tell us about it as you book and we will plan the survey around it.
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
What happens if roof problems are left?
Chimneys are easy to forget because you rarely see the top of them. Defects tend to go unseen until there is a stain. A survey gives you a clear picture before that happens. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You will know the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Wareside
- Visits on any day of the week
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Photos and a written report every time
Read what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Wareside
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Whatever the covering, it’s often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. About 3.3 miles north-east lies Much Hadham Palace, a reminder of how long the area around Wareside has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Take an older house close to Church of the Holy Trinity: its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. Anyone responsible for a site like Wareside 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. Landlords with a home close to Ware station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Wareside is about 2 miles east of Ware, in Hertfordshire. Bookings from Wareside are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Wareside is one of the places in Hertfordshire where we work for chimney surveys. You can also see our page for Chelmsford.
Here we cover the SG12 postcode area for chimney surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Babbs Green (1 mile north-west), Widford (1 mile east), Cold Christmas (2 miles north-west), Hunsdon (2 miles south-east) and Nether Street (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Stevenage (11 miles north-west), Bishop's Stortford (7 miles north-east), Welwyn Garden City (9 miles west), Hitchin (15 miles north-west), Hoddesdon (5 miles south) and Cheshunt (8 miles south).
What’s near Wareside
We work in homes and buildings around The Chequers Public House and the streets around them. Wareside’s nearest station is Ware station, roughly 2.5 miles south-west. Nearby you’ll also find Barrowfield (3.4 miles south-west) and Princess Alexandra Hospital (4.4 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Amwell Quarry.