East Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Bishopstone, East Sussex
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Bishopstone, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
Why it’s worth a survey now in Bishopstone
If a stack seems to lean, do not leave it. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you know where you stand. Outbuildings and barns around Bishopstone are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can safely be seen and which survey you book.
Why us?
- Prices that include VAT
- An independent look at the roof
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
Read how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
How a chimney survey works in Bishopstone
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and the flashings at the roof line. Inside, we check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft where it is safe to reach. You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. If you’re worried about bricks with flaking faces and damp on a chimney breast inside, we can find out what’s behind it.
Some older homes in villages like Bishopstone 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. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is frequently expected.
With the Standard Survey, you also get 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.
- Place
- Bishopstone (BN25)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we’re asked to look at in Bishopstone
Lots of homes have redundant stacks. A stack sealed without ventilation can trap damp. That can lead to damp patches on chimney breasts, even with the roof in good order.
Look out for signs like these:
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Worn or missing pointing
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
Take a building like Seaford Primary School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Questions to ask before you book
- What experience they bring
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
Places near Bishopstone
Other services in Bishopstone
The survey, step by step
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. The survey typically takes about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Around Bishopstone, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We check every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Book a survey
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and give us some details about the property and we will explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Read more
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the freeholder or managing agent. Tell us about it when you book and we will plan the survey around it.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Useful tips for Bishopstone property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. That helps stop damp building up inside.
What a chimney survey looks like in Bishopstone
The coast is about 1 mile or less from Bishopstone, 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. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs, and the county’s older buildings include oast houses and Wealden hall houses. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
For landlords with property near Bishopstone (Sussex) station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. Take an older house close to Church of St Andrew: old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Bishopstone is about 1 mile north-west of Seaford, in East Sussex. We survey roofs in Bishopstone and the surrounding area as part of our work across London and the South East. Bishopstone is one of the places in East Sussex where we work for chimney surveys. There’s also a page for Brighton.
All of BN25 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Bishopstone Road and Manor Yard or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover Norton (1 mile north), Tide Mills (1 mile south-west), Seaford (1 mile south-east), Denton (1 mile north-west) and Newhaven (2 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (9 miles east), Lewes (7 miles north-west), Hailsham (9 miles north-east), Uckfield (12 miles north), Peacehaven (4 miles west) and Telscombe (4 miles west).
Landmarks near Bishopstone
Typical jobs here are in homes near Castle Hill, UTC@Harbourside and St Peter's School, among other places. The nearest railway station is Bishopstone (Sussex) station, roughly 0.8 miles south of the centre. A little further out are Arlington Castle (3.9 miles north-east) and Chailey Heritage Marine Hospital (1 mile south-west). Not far away are Firle Beacon.
Bishopstone questions
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Bishopstone, take more of a battering?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
How do I find out if my home in Bishopstone is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
Don’t ignore it. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down. We record its condition with photographs, and a structural engineer can assess whether it needs work.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Our cover is professional indemnity plus public liability, and we can provide details if a managing agent needs them.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it’s safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. Shared stacks are common on terraced and semi-detached houses. We survey what we can see safely, and note anything that seems to involve next door.