East Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Berwick, East Sussex
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? You can book a chimney survey in Berwick and across East Sussex, with plain-English findings.
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
About our chimney survey in Berwick
If you are buying a home with chimneys, it is worth knowing their condition before you exchange. On older stacks, we often 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. We survey lead flashings, flaunching and chimney breasts, and people most frequently book us about flaunching that has broken away and eroded joints in the brickwork.
Somewhere as small as Berwick, 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. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it’s typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Berwick (BN26)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney breasts and the loft
Inside, chimney breasts can show damp when water gets into the stack. We check the breasts and the stack in the loft space where we can reach.
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joint between the stack and the roof. The survey looks at whether the lead is tight, sound and well fixed.
Also near Berwick
What else we do in Berwick
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Berwick
The wider area around Berwick has a long history of building, with Charleston Farmhouse about 2.2 miles west. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs, and the county’s older buildings include oast houses and Wealden hall houses. Whatever the covering, it is frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
Landlords with a home close to Berwick (Sussex) station may find that a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. If you live in an older home near The Parish Church of St Mary, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Berwick is about 4 miles south-west of Hailsham, in East Sussex. We carry out chimney surveys in Berwick for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Berwick is one of the places in East Sussex we cover. For surveys nearby, see our Brighton page.
We work across the BN26 postcode area for chimney surveys. Local streets include Station Road, Cornford Crescent and The Village. Close by, we survey roofs in Selmeston (1 mile west), Alciston (1 mile south-west), Arlington (1 mile east), Wickstreet (2 miles north-east) and Milton Street (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns like Eastbourne (6 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (13 miles east), Seaford (5 miles south-west), Lewes (7 miles west), Hailsham (4 miles north-east) and Crowborough (15 miles north).
Landmarks near Berwick
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Berwick Inn. Berwick has its own railway station: Berwick (Sussex) station. Other landmarks nearby include Hellingly Hospital Railway (5.4 miles north-east) and Drusillas Museum (1.2 miles south). Open spaces near Berwick include Firle Beacon.
Useful tips for Berwick property owners
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. It shows what we found and where from the viewpoints we used.
Check redundant flues are capped with ventilation. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
Why get it checked now?
Chimneys are easy to forget because you rarely see the top of them. Defects tend to go unseen until there is a stain. Surveying the stack now can catch problems first. In a place like Berwick, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you’d like to know.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Berwick
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Visits on any day of the week
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
Landlords, agents and block managers in Berwick
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in. We survey on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Questions from Berwick
Do you cover smaller places like Berwick?
Yes, Berwick is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Berwick (Sussex) station?
Yes, letting agents and landlords book with us as well as owners. You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details.
What happens after the survey?
We email you the written report with photos and recommendations. It’s yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
It is worth having a leaning stack checked. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
There are a few common causes: water getting in at the top, through the brickwork or at the flashings, or moisture trapped in a stack with no ventilation. We check each one and note the most likely cause.
Do you need to go on the roof to check the chimney?
We look from the ground, from windows and from the loft where it’s safe. A drone inspection is part of the Premium Survey where applicable. Any area we couldn’t view is noted.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We carry out surveys on any day of the week. To find a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Bear these in mind:
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Berwick
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
How the survey works
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. After that, we look at everything we can see safely. Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a hamlet or village like Berwick, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Arrange a survey
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.