East Sussex · London and the South East
Birling Gap Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Birling Gap, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- A chimney out of line
Birling Gap questions
Do you cover smaller places like Birling Gap?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Can a landlord with a rental near Eastbourne station book a roof survey?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
How long is the visit?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof; most visits take about 1–2 hours at a typical home, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. The report is sent afterwards by email.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. Many houses share stacks with a neighbour. We survey what we can see safely, and note anything that seems to involve next door.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Damp on a chimney breast normally means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped and records the likely cause.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
Chimney survey in Birling Gap: what you get
A leaning chimney stack is worth having looked at. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, often after years of flue gases and damp. The survey notes how the stack looks, how far it seems to lean and the state of the bricks and joints. If the stack looks like a structural issue, the report recommends a structural engineer. We survey flaunching, chimney pots and cowls and chimney breasts, and people most frequently book us about cracked or missing flaunching and staining on walls around the chimney.
Some older homes in villages like Birling Gap are listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
After the visit, you get a report with photographs, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Location
- Birling Gap (BN20)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Other services in Birling Gap
What we do, step by step
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, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Rural addresses near Birling Gap can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- Every part we can see is checked: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks 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.
Before the survey
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Tell us where we can park nearby
Booking a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
Related advice
Common roof problems in Birling Gap
The flaunching on top of a stack holds the pots in place and sheds water. Once it cracks, water gets in and frost makes the cracks bigger. Loose pots can follow.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Worn or missing pointing
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Staining on walls around the chimney
For an older house near a landmark like The Parish Church of St Simon and St Jude, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Before booking anyone
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- What follow-up you get after the report
Honest limits
Before booking, it’s worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will point you to the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Survey packages start from £150, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included, and we’ll tell you which fits.
What to let us know when you contact us
When you call or email, these details help:
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Birling Gap
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Chimney surveys in Birling Gap: local notes
Birling Gap is within about 1 mile of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof. Historic houses such as Alfriston Clergy House, about 4.7 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Birling Gap goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
Landlords with a home close to Eastbourne station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Birling Gap is about 5 miles south-east of Seaford, in East Sussex. Surveys in Birling Gap work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Our East Sussex coverage includes Birling Gap and the places around it. You can also see our page for Brighton.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: BN20. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in East Dean (1 mile north), Friston (1 mile north), Meads (3 miles east), Holywell (3 miles east) and Old Town (3 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns like Eastbourne (5 miles north-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles north-east), Seaford (5 miles north-west), Lewes (13 miles north-west), Hailsham (9 miles north) and Newhaven (8 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Birling Gap
For rail, the closest station is Eastbourne station, roughly 3.9 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Eastbourne District General Hospital (4.1 miles north-east) and Rnli Eastbourne Lifeboat Museum (3.9 miles east). The countryside around Birling Gap includes Combe Hill.
What you can safely check yourself
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.