West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Bilsham, West Sussex
Chimney surveys in Bilsham from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
Tips that help
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. The photos show the problem and which side it is on from the viewpoints we used.
Look at your chimneys from ground level now and then, particularly after strong winds. With binoculars, you can often see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.
Chimney survey in Bilsham: what you get
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It is not a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. If you use a fire or a gas appliance, the flue should be checked by a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer as appropriate. We will tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. We survey chimney breasts, flaunching and brick chimney stacks, and people most frequently book us about spalled or crumbling bricks and unused flues sealed without airflow.
In a village or hamlet like Bilsham, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on what can safely be seen, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Place
- Bilsham (BN18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. All told, expect roughly 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Around Bilsham, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- 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.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before we arrive
- Tell us about parking before the day
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Book a survey
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will ask a few questions about the roof. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Advice
FAQs for Bilsham
Is my home in Bilsham 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.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Bilsham?
It can do. Within about 2 miles of the sea, as Bilsham is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with the building owner or managing agent. Tell us about it when you book and we will plan the survey around it.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. It isn’t a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, like cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Cracked flaunching and worn pointing are frequently modest repairs when they’re caught early. Leave it, and frost can work the stack loose, and the work grows. For older village homes like those around Bilsham, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Bilsham
- 98% of clients satisfied
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Read how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
Do you need a chimney survey in Bilsham?
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which can make a stack lean.
Look out for signs like these:
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Worn or missing pointing
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Bilsham Chapel, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Local roofs in Bilsham
Bilsham lies within about 2 miles of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Near the sea, metal fixings wear faster and loose pieces on a roof are more likely to lift, while driving rain finds any gap. There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 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, so check with the council.
If you own a rental within reach of Barnham station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Yapton CE Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Bilsham is about 3 miles north-east of Bognor Regis, in West Sussex. Surveys in Bilsham work the same way as everywhere we cover: a close look at whatever is safely visible, photos and a clear written report. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex. Our Portsmouth page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: BN18. Close by, we survey roofs in Yapton (1 mile north), Flansham (1 mile west), Barnham (2 miles north-west), West Barnham (2 miles north-west) and Lidsey (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Worthing (10 miles east), Bognor Regis (3 miles south-west), Chichester (7 miles west), Selsey (9 miles south-west), Littlehampton (4 miles east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (15 miles east).
What’s near Bilsham
Typical jobs here are in homes near Felpham Community College and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Barnham station, about 1.8 miles north-west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Bognor Regis Museum (3.3 miles south-west) and Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital (2.8 miles south-west). For a walk, there is WWT Arundel.
What we look for on each type of roof
Rendered stacks
Some stacks are rendered, which can hide the condition of the brickwork beneath. The survey checks for cracking, bulging and staining in the render.
Chimney pots and cowls
On redundant flues, we check how the pots are capped. Poor capping can lead to damp inside the stack.
Nearby places to Bilsham
More services for Bilsham
Prices for chimney surveys in Bilsham
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The size of the roof
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can be seen safely and the package you choose.
Booking your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- Anything about access we should know
- The property’s address and postcode
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.