In this work, chemical-solution derived silicate fibers were prepared by mixing tetraethyl orthosilicate, ethanol, distilled water, and hydrochloric acid in order to investigate surface roughness of fiber. Silicate fibers were drawn by using a viscous solution after evaporation at $80^{circ}C$. The dried gel fibers were finally annealed at $1000^{circ}C$, $1100^{circ}C$, $1200^{circ}C$ and $^1300{circ}C$ for 60 min in dried air (flow rate = ∼200 ml/min). The crystallinity of the heat-treated silica fiber was analyzed by the X-ray diffraction $ heta$-2$ heta$ scan. A field emission-scanning electron microscope and an atomic force microscope were used to evaluate surface properties. The silicate fiber annealed at $1300^{circ}C$ showed high value of root mean square roughness and had a relatively inhomogeneous surface structure.