East Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Blackness, East Sussex
Chimney surveys in Blackness from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
Before and after the survey
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
After the visit, we write up the report with photos of each stack. It explains the condition of each part of the stack and any damp inside. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Blackness
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We look at everything that’s safely in view and what the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it, so you can talk to them. You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations. We survey flaunching, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney pots and cowls, and the problems we are asked to look at most are gaps in the mortar around the pots and spalled or crumbling bricks.
Some older homes in villages like Blackness 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.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Where
- Blackness (BN24)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Why act early in Blackness
Loose pots and bricks on a stack are a safety concern. A survey picks them out so they can be made safe by a suitable contractor. For older village homes like those around Blackness, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why us?
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Prices that include VAT
- An independent look at the roof
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Towns and villages near Blackness
Other services in Blackness
Chimney surveys in Blackness: local notes
The coast is about 3 miles or less from Blackness, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Near the sea, metal fixings wear faster and loose pieces on a roof are more likely to lift, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. 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, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
Landlords with a home close to Pevensey & Westham station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. For an older house near a landmark like St Luke's Church, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. Take a building like Stone Cross School: its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Blackness is about 2 miles north of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. Roofs in Blackness get the same thorough look as anywhere else in East Sussex. We cover towns and villages across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton.
Every address in BN24 is covered for chimney surveys. Local streets include Forge Place, Hailsham Road and Hankham Road. If you’re just outside Blackness, we cover Hankham (1 mile north-east), Stone Cross (1 mile south-east), Polegate (2 miles west), Lower Willingdon (2 miles south-west) and Willingdon (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Hastings (12 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (8 miles east), Seaford (9 miles west), Lewes (13 miles west), Hailsham (3 miles north-west) and St Leonards (12 miles east).
Around Blackness
Around Blackness, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Causeway School and The Red Lion pub. Blackness’s nearest station is Pevensey & Westham station, roughly 1.5 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Pevensey Court House Museum And Gaol (1.9 miles east) and Eastbourne District General Hospital (2.5 miles south-west). The countryside around Blackness includes Combe Hill.
What this survey cannot tell you
Before booking, it’s worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
How the survey changes by roof type
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.
Brick stacks
Many older stacks were built with lime mortar. We note where repairs should match the original mortar.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Blackness
How do I find out if my home in Blackness is listed?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover smaller places like Blackness?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. We inspect what can be seen safely and what you give us access to. Where a problem appears to be on next door’s side, we note it, so you can discuss it with them.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We do not sample or test for asbestos. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
What happens on the day
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes an hour or two at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Somewhere like Blackness needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We check the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Getting ready for the survey
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Tell us about parking before the day
Book a survey
For a price for chimney surveys in Blackness, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Some details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Related advice
For landlords and managing agents
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Let us know about it as you book and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
If you own several properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the addresses.