West Sussex · London and the South East
Bolney Chimney Survey
Find out what’s going on with the chimney stack before you spend money on it. Chimney surveys in Bolney, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Flaunching that has broken away
- A chimney out of line
How a chimney survey works in Bolney
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: the pots and cowls, the flaunching on top, the pointing, the brickwork and the flashings where it meets the roof. We also look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access. You get a report with photos and our recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. We survey lead flashings, brick chimney stacks and flaunching, and common reasons people get in touch are bricks with flaking faces and flaunching that has broken away.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
It isn’t only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend.
- Location
- Bolney (RH17)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. Most surveys take an hour or two at a typical home, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Rural addresses near Bolney can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We check every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
How to prepare
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Booking a survey
You can call us seven days a week. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Related advice
Towns and villages near Bolney
More services for Bolney
Should I look at the roof myself first?
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Bolney questions
How do I find out if my home in Bolney is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
I let a flat near Wivelsfield station. Can you check the roof?
Of course. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but we don’t provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. The report will say if you need an engineer.
What does a chimney survey cover?
The whole stack, as far as it can safely be seen: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings. We also note leaning, redundant stacks and damp inside.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In strong wind or a downpour, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. Many houses share stacks with a neighbour. We record the stack as far as we can see it and flag anything on the neighbour’s side.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. It isn’t a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We look at the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
Signs you need a chimney survey in Bolney
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which is one reason stacks start to lean.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Worn or missing pointing
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Staining on walls around the chimney
For landlords with property near Wivelsfield station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
What to check before booking
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- How soon the report will arrive
How the survey changes by roof type
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.
Lead flashings
Flashings can lift in wind or pull out of their mortar joints. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Booking your survey
There’s no need for technical words. Just tell us:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- The address and postcode of the property
- What made you get in touch
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Chimney surveys in Bolney: local notes
Historic houses like Ockenden Manor, about 2.5 miles east, show how far back building in the area around Bolney goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Older houses across Sussex frequently have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
If you look after a building such as Bolney CofE Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. The streets around a church such as St Mary Magdalene's Church are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Bolney is about 4 miles north-west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. Bolney gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Our West Sussex coverage includes Bolney and the places around it. Crawley is in our area too.
All of RH17 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on The Street, Cherry Lane and Top Street and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Bolney: Crosspost (1 mile south-west), Twineham Green (2 miles south), Twineham (2 miles south), Wineham (3 miles south-west) and Kent Street (3 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (8 miles north), Horsham (7 miles north-west), Worthing (15 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (5 miles east), Burgess Hill (4 miles south-east) and East Grinstead (12 miles north-east).
Around Bolney
For rail, the closest station is Wivelsfield station, about 4.1 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include The Dene Hospital (2.6 miles south-east) and Cuckfield Museum (2.6 miles east). For a walk, there’s Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
Tips that help
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
If the report recommends a structural engineer, a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer, it will say why. It gives them a clear starting point.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked, and moved if they’re working it loose. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.