West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Blackstone, West Sussex
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Blackstone. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joint between the stack and the roof. We check for lifting, splits and gaps in the joints.
Brick stacks
Older brick stacks frequently have soft lime mortar. We note where repairs should match the original mortar.
Chimney survey in Blackstone: what you get
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It’s not a flue inspection, a chimney sweep or a gas safety inspection. 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. If something we see points to the flue, we will say so. If you’ve noticed frost-damaged brickwork on the stack and damaged chimney pots and cowls, we can find out what’s behind it, on chimney pots and cowls, lead flashings and shared and party-wall stacks alike.
In a village or hamlet like Blackstone, 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. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it’s normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- Blackstone (BN5)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Blackstone questions
Will you come out to Blackstone?
Yes, Blackstone is covered. We survey roofs across London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Hassocks station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us about the building, including who will give access on the day.
How long will you be at the property?
Time on site depends on the roof, but most surveys take an hour or two at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. The written report follows by email.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where it applies.
What’s in the survey report?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, finishing with recommendations. The most urgent items are made clear.
How can you see the top of the stack?
Each stack is viewed from the safest viewpoints: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the loft space. Our Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where applicable. We note anything we couldn’t see.
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will suggest the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
Tips that help
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
The survey, step by step
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Rural addresses near Blackstone 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 go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We check every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Getting a price
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from ground level or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
DIY checks: what’s safe
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Leave it or get it looked at?
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. Older and listed buildings around Blackstone may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, including VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why book us in Blackstone
- PI and public liability insurance
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- An independent view of the roof
- 98% customer satisfaction
Read what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Places near Blackstone
What else we do in Blackstone
Chimney surveys in Blackstone: local notes
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. Before planning roof work on an older home, find out whether it’s listed or in a conservation area. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area.
For an older house near a landmark such as The Parish Church of St Bartholomew, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. If you own a rental within reach of Hassocks station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Blackstone is about 5 miles west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. We visit Blackstone as part of our work across West Sussex. Across West Sussex, we cover Blackstone. We also survey roofs in Brighton.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: BN5. Whether your property is on Blackstone Lane and Blackstone Street or a nearby road, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Woodmancote (1 mile south-west), High Cross (1 mile north-east), Albourne (1 mile east), Albourne Street (1 mile east) and Albourne Green (1 mile east). Further out, we also cover Crawley (13 miles north), Horsham (10 miles north), Worthing (10 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (8 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (5 miles east) and Littlehampton (15 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Blackstone
For rail, the closest station is Hassocks station, roughly 3.9 miles east. Well-known places in the area include The Dene Hospital (3.8 miles north-east) and The Budding Foundation Museum of Gardening (3.6 miles east). Open spaces near Blackstone include Woods Mill and Wolstonbury Hill.