West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Avisford
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching across Avisford, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
Chimney survey in Avisford: what you get
If a chimney looks out of line, it’s worth getting it checked. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, often after years of flue gases and damp. We record the lean and the condition of the brickwork and pointing. Where it may be a structural concern, we’ll recommend a structural engineer. We survey chimney pots and cowls, chimney breasts and brick chimney stacks, and the problems we are asked to look at most are gaps where the stack meets the roof and loose, cracked or missing pots.
Somewhere as small as Avisford, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it’s normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photographs show what each point refers to.
- Where
- Avisford (BN18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What a chimney survey looks like in Avisford
Avisford is within about 4 miles of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, while driving rain finds any gap. An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. For site and facilities teams at buildings like Walberton and Binsted CofE Primary School, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Avisford is about 4 miles north-west of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. Avisford is part of the area we cover across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our Portsmouth page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the BN18 postcode area for chimney surveys. Other places close to Avisford include Binsted (1 mile east), Walberton (1 mile south-west), Slindon Common (1 mile north-west), Slindon (1 mile north-west) and West Barnham (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Worthing (9 miles east), Bognor Regis (5 miles south-west), Chichester (7 miles west), Selsey (11 miles south-west), Littlehampton (4 miles south-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (15 miles east).
Local landmarks in Avisford
We work in homes and buildings around St Philip Howard Catholic High School, among other places. The closest station to Avisford is Barnham station, about 1.7 miles south-west. Well-known places in the area include Arundel Castle (2.6 miles east) and Arundel and District Hospital (2.1 miles east). Open spaces near Avisford include Bignor Hill and WWT Arundel.
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
After the visit, we write up the report with photos of each stack. It covers the pots, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings, and any damp we found inside. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked, and moved if they’re working it loose. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Avisford
Is my home in Avisford listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Is Avisford within the area you cover?
Yes. Avisford is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We work right across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. We survey the stack and its weathering, not the flue. For the flue, you will need a sweep or, for gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer.
How can you see the top of the stack?
Each stack is viewed from the safest viewpoints: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the loft space. A drone inspection is included in our Premium Survey where it applies. We note anything we couldn’t see.
Are you insured?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
There are a few common causes: cracked flaunching, worn pointing, failed flashings, uncapped pots, or damp trapped in an unventilated stack. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we do not carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
Common roof problems in Avisford
Years of fires can affect the mortar inside a stack. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which can make a stack lean.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
If you let a flat or house near Barnham station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Questions to ask before booking
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
Places near Avisford
Other services in Avisford
What happens on the day
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. We take close-ups from wherever is safe. Most surveys take about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Somewhere as small as Avisford, access is frequently the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We look at every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Before the survey
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
Booking a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Landlord and commercial surveys in Avisford
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, from shops and offices to industrial units. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Avisford. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What happens if roof problems are left?
A loose pot or brick can fall from height. A survey picks them out so they can be made safe by a suitable contractor. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Avisford, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, access and the package you choose.
Why us?
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Surveys seven days a week
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 20+ years’ experience
See what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Prices for chimney surveys in Avisford
We confirm the exact price before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Which survey package you book
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Roof area
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for your roof before you book.
Helping us price your survey
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.