West Sussex · London and the South East
Birchgrove Chimney Survey
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? We carry out chimney surveys in Birchgrove and across West Sussex.
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Bricks with flaking faces
Chimney survey in Birchgrove: what you get
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is frequently shared with next door. We inspect the parts we can see safely and the parts the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it and you can then discuss it with them. You get a written report with photos and what we recommend. If you’ve noticed gaps where the stack meets the roof and cracked or missing flaunching, we can find out what’s behind it, on lead flashings, chimney breasts and chimney pots and cowls alike.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are frequently where weather gets in first.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Location
- Birchgrove (RH17)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. After that, we look at everything we can see safely, using the ground, windows, the loft and a drone where applicable. The survey usually takes between one and two hours at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. Somewhere as small as Birchgrove, access is often the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- The stacks are looked at from ground level, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Where there is safe access, we look at the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
How to prepare
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Arrange a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Advice
Chimney surveys in Birchgrove: local notes
Priest House, about 2.9 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Birchgrove. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
Birchgrove is about 5 miles south of East Grinstead, in West Sussex. We carry out chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Birchgrove and nearby. Our West Sussex coverage includes Birchgrove. Our Crawley page covers surveys nearby.
Surveys in RH17 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We also cover the places around Birchgrove: Chelwood Gate (1 mile east), Chelwood Common (1 mile south-east), Danehill (1 mile south), Horsted Keynes (2 miles south-west) and Wych Cross (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Crawley (9 miles north-west), Horsham (14 miles west), Haywards Heath (5 miles south-west), Burgess Hill (8 miles south-west), East Grinstead (5 miles north) and Broadfield (9 miles west).
Landmarks near Birchgrove
Well-known places in the area include Heaven Farm Museum (2.3 miles south) and Waterbury Castle (1.7 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Brickfield Meadow.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date.
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Birchgrove
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 with less disruption.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Questions from Birchgrove
Do you carry out roof surveys in Birchgrove?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Birchgrove as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is my home in Birchgrove listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
How can you see the top of the stack?
We use safe viewpoints rather than climbing onto the stack. Where it applies, our Premium Survey adds a drone inspection for a closer view. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. We look at the parts we can see safely and the parts you can give us access to. If a defect seems to be on your neighbour’s side, the report records it and you can raise it with them.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Just say which days work for you.
Towns and villages near Birchgrove
Also in Birchgrove
Honest limits
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Conditions inside walls
- A structural engineer’s assessment
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
Tips from our surveys
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Check redundant flues are capped with ventilation. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
Do you need a chimney survey in Birchgrove?
Flaunching is the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the top. Once it cracks, water gets in and frost makes the cracks bigger. Loose pots can follow.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Staining on walls around the chimney
Take an older house close to Chelwood Gate Church: its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Is VAT included in the price?
- What the survey won’t cover