West Sussex · London and the South East
Alfold Bars Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys around Alfold Bars, with a written report you can act on. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
How a chimney survey works in Alfold Bars
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. A disused stack still needs looking after. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. 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. Common reasons to book are unused flues sealed without airflow and pots or cowls that look unsafe, on shared and party-wall stacks, flaunching and brick chimney stacks.
In a village or hamlet like Alfold Bars, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs frequently need the most attention.
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
- Alfold Bars (RH14)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What a chimney survey looks like in Alfold Bars
Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list, before anyone quotes for re-roofing. Older houses across Sussex frequently have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Living close to Fir Tree Copse is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall. Take an older house close to Church of St Nicholas: corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Alfold Bars is about 9 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. We cover Alfold Bars and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and the South East. Alfold Bars is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work for chimney surveys. You can also see our page for Guildford.
All of RH14 is within our area for chimney surveys. Whether your property is on Pigbush Lane and Oakhurst Lane or a nearby road, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Alfold (1 mile north), Loxwood (1 mile south), Ifold (2 miles south-west), Plaistow (2 miles south-west) and Durfold Wood (3 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Crawley (14 miles east), Horsham (9 miles east), Broadfield (14 miles east), Storrington (12 miles south), Billingshurst (6 miles south-east) and Bewbush (13 miles east).
Local landmarks in Alfold Bars
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Crown pub and Fir Tree Copse. Open spaces near Alfold Bars include Shillinglee Lake.
Different roofs, different checks
Rendered stacks
Some stacks are rendered, which can hide the condition of the brickwork beneath. We look for cracks, hollow areas and staining.
Brick stacks
Most chimney stacks are built of brick, with mortar joints that wear over time. We check the bricks for spalling and the joints for erosion.
Do you need a chimney survey in Alfold Bars?
Flaunching is the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the top. Cracked flaunching lets water in, and each winter makes it worse. Loose pots can follow.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Worn or missing pointing
Take a building like Loxwood Primary School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Before you book anyone
- What exactly goes into their report
- Which limits apply to the survey
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
What happens on the day
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the loft space if there is safe access. In total, it takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. In a hamlet or village like Alfold Bars, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before we arrive
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
Booking a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Can I check my roof myself?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
Nearby places to Alfold Bars
What else we do in Alfold Bars
Tips from our surveys
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. It shows what we found and where, as far as we could see.
Check redundant flues are capped with ventilation. That helps stop damp building up inside.
Alfold Bars: your questions answered
Do you cover Alfold Bars?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and Alfold Bars is part of that. Just ring 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Will you come out to Alfold Bars?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
How many surveys have you done?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
What happens after the survey?
You will receive the report by email, and you decide the next step: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only if it is safe. We inspect whatever is safely visible: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the loft space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where applicable. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
What insurance do you have?
We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
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.