East Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Boarshead
A careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Boarshead, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
Common roof problems in Boarshead
Some owners book because a chimney breast has been removed below and they want to know about the stack above. We note what’s visible in the roof space and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Flaunching that has broken away
If you let a flat or house near Eridge station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Before booking anyone
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- What exactly goes into their report
- What insurance they carry
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Chimney survey in Boarshead: what you get
A damp patch on a chimney breast doesn’t always come from the same place. It might come in at the top, through worn pointing or porous bricks, or where the flashings meet the roof. Condensation inside an unventilated stack is another common cause. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause. You then know where to start. We survey flaunching, brick chimney stacks and shared and party-wall stacks, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are frost-damaged brickwork on the stack and loose, cracked or missing pots.
Somewhere as small as Boarshead, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- Boarshead (TN6)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Chimney surveys in Boarshead: local notes
Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. 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. About 3.3 miles north lies Groombridge Place, a reminder of how long the area around Boarshead has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you look after a building such as Beacon Academy, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Boarshead is about 2 miles north-east of Crowborough, in East Sussex. We carry out chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Boarshead and nearby. Boarshead is one of the towns and villages in East Sussex we cover for chimney surveys. There is also a page for Crawley.
Here we cover the TN6 postcode area for chimney surveys. Boarshead sits on or near the A26, so getting to you is simple. Other places close to Boarshead include Steel Cross (1 mile south), Jarvis Brook (1 mile south), Crowborough (2 miles south-west), Mott's Mill (2 miles north) and Marden's Hill (2 miles west). We also work in nearby towns like Hailsham (15 miles south), Uckfield (8 miles south-west), South Malling (15 miles south-west), Heathfield (8 miles south), Upper Horsebridge (14 miles south) and Cliffe (15 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Boarshead
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Boars Head Inn, among other places. The nearest railway station is Eridge station, roughly 1.4 miles north-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (1.8 miles south-west) and Bolebroke Castle (4.9 miles north-west). The countryside around Boarshead includes Crowborough Country Park.
DIY checks: what’s safe
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Boarshead
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
Boarshead: your questions answered
Can a landlord with a rental near Eridge station book a roof survey?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
Will you come out to Boarshead?
Yes. Boarshead is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
There are a few common causes: cracked flaunching, worn pointing, failed flashings, uncapped pots, or damp trapped in an unventilated stack. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause.
How much does a chimney survey cost in Boarshead?
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking, based on the roof’s size, access and package. To get a price, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. It is a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
How long is the visit?
Most surveys take about 1–2 hours at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. We’ll confirm the timing when booking.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. We survey the stack and its weathering, not the flue. The flue should be checked by a sweep, or by a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances.
How the survey works
We will ask a few questions first, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes an hour or two for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Older rural homes like those around Boarshead can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- The stacks are looked at from the ground, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach them.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Getting ready for the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Keep pets in another room
How to book
When you are ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Read more
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney pots and cowls
Damaged pots are a safety concern as well as a leak risk. We record their condition with photographs.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Where a breast has been taken out, we look at what supports the stack. Confirming the support is a job for a structural engineer.
Nearby places to Boarshead
What else we do in Boarshead
Why it is worth a survey now in Boarshead
Cracked flaunching and worn pointing are often modest repairs when they’re caught early. Leave it, and frost can work the stack loose and the job gets bigger. For an older or listed building in a place like Boarshead, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 inc. VAT. We’ll tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Why us?
- Packages from £150, with VAT included
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Weekday and weekend surveys
Read our cost guide and our case studies.