Hertfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Widford, Hertfordshire
Find out the condition of the chimney stack at your property in Widford from an independent roof surveyor. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
About our chimney survey in Widford
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. On older stacks, we frequently find cracked flaunching, loose flashings and worn pointing. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. Common reasons to book are unused flues sealed without airflow and flashings pulling away from the stack, across brick chimney stacks, flaunching and chimney pots and cowls.
In a village or hamlet like Widford, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it is normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
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
- Widford (SG12)
- Region
- Hertfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Widford
The flaunching on top of a stack holds the pots in place and sheds water. Cracked flaunching lets water in, and each winter makes it worse. Loose pots can follow.
People normally book a survey after spotting one of these:
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Signs that a stack is leaning
Landlords with a home close to Harlow Town station may find that a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Their report turnaround times
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
Prices for chimney surveys in Widford
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- The roof’s overall size
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Height and safe access
Every price we give includes VAT. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
Booking your survey
These details help when you get in touch:
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- The property’s address and postcode
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Places near Widford
More services for Widford
Honest limits
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Widford
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
Local roofs in Widford
Much Hadham Palace, about 2.6 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Widford. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. 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. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Parish Church of St John the Baptist, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. Anyone responsible for a site like Widford School will know that large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Widford is about 4 miles east of Ware, in Hertfordshire. Widford is one of many places we visit across Hertfordshire, for homes and businesses alike. Our Hertfordshire coverage includes Widford. Our Chelmsford page covers surveys nearby.
We work across SG12 for chimney surveys. That includes homes and businesses on High Street, Bell Lane and Priory Farm Yard and the roads around them. Other places close to Widford include Nether Street (1 mile north-east), Hunsdon (1 mile south), Hunsdonbury (1 mile south), Wareside (1 mile west) and Babbs Green (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Stevenage (12 miles north-west), Bishop's Stortford (5 miles north-east), Welwyn Garden City (11 miles west), Hoddesdon (6 miles south-west), Cheshunt (9 miles south-west) and Hatfield (13 miles west).
Around Widford
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Bell Inn On The Corner Of Bell Lane and the streets around them. Widford’s nearest station is Harlow Town station, roughly 3.2 miles south-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Princess Alexandra Hospital (3.7 miles south) and Harlow Mill (3.7 miles south-east). The countryside around Widford includes Hunsdon Mead.
The survey, step by step
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Rural addresses near Widford can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You tell us how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- Every part we can see is looked at: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach them.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Preparing for the visit
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Keep pets in another room
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Arrange a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form to find out.
Advice
Why act early in Widford
Before deciding what to do with a redundant stack, a survey shows how it’s doing. Changes to stacks in conservation areas or on listed buildings may need consent and the council can advise. Older cottages and farmhouses around Widford can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You will know the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Widford
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Photos and a written report every time
See what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
FAQs for Widford
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Widford?
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 Harlow Town station. Can you check the roof?
Of course. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. It isn’t a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We check the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Do you work in Widford?
Yes. Our area covers London and South East England, Widford included.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
Each stack is viewed from the safest viewpoints: from the ground, windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there is access. Our Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where applicable. We note anything we couldn’t see.
How long will you be at the property?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof; most visits take between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Tips that help
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. What helps most:
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
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.
Look at your chimneys from the ground now and then, especially after strong winds. With binoculars, you can often see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.