East Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Cliffe, East Sussex
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Cliffe, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings
Mortar fillets are sometimes used where lead would usually be. They tend to crack, so we look at them closely.
Rendered stacks
We cannot see the bricks behind render without it being opened up, so the report says what can and cannot be judged.
Chimney survey in Cliffe: what you get
We inspect chimneys from wherever they can safely be seen: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there’s access. With our Premium Survey, a drone inspection is included where it applies. Where part of a stack cannot be seen, the report says so. Each defect is recorded with a photo and a plain description. If you’ve noticed damp on a chimney breast inside and a chimney out of line, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a smaller place like Cliffe, homes range from older cottages to bungalows and newer houses. Older roofs can have slate, clay tiles or other traditional coverings, while many later ones have concrete tiles. On older homes, chimney stacks, valleys and gutters are typically where the work is, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. Nails and battens under older coverings often give out before the slates or tiles themselves.
Most points in the report come with a picture, because a photo of a cracked flashing says more than a paragraph. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Where
- Cliffe (BN7, BN8)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near Cliffe
What else we do in Cliffe
The survey, step by step
You don’t need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll take it from there. The survey itself takes an hour or two for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. In a smaller place like Cliffe, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. On bungalows and lower roofs, much can be seen from the ground, with the loft showing the underside.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We check every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Before we arrive
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Let us know about parking before the day
Getting a price
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
Advice
Cliffe questions
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Cliffe?
We cannot 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 Cliffe?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
What does the report include?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, with photos throughout. It also says if any part of the roof couldn’t be seen safely.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
A leaning stack should be looked at. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and recommend a structural engineer where it may be a structural concern.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
An unused stack still needs to stay weathertight and ventilated. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. We check how it is capped and its condition, so you can plan what to do with it.
How long does the survey take?
Most surveys take an hour or two on an ordinary house, and more on a big or complicated roof. We’ll confirm the timing as you book.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf. Access is agreed with the tenant ahead of time.
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.
Can I check my roof myself?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Chimney surveys around Cliffe
Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper 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. With Anne of Cleves House about 0.7 miles south-west, Cliffe sits in an area with a long building history. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Thomas at Cliffe 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. Living close to Railway Land is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn.
Cliffe is about 1 mile east of Lewes, in East Sussex. We survey roofs in Cliffe and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton.
Chimney surveys in BN7 and BN8 are booked the same way as anywhere else. That includes homes and businesses on Ham Lane, New Road and Court Road. Being close to the A26, Cliffe is simple for us to get to for chimney surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Southover (1 mile south-west), South Malling (1 mile north-west), Lewes (1 mile west), Hamsey (2 miles north) and Offham (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (13 miles south-east), Seaford (8 miles south-east), Hailsham (10 miles east), Crowborough (14 miles north-east), Uckfield (7 miles north-east) and Newhaven (6 miles south).
What’s near Cliffe
Around Cliffe, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Gardeners Arms, Railway Land and Lewes Old Grammar School and the streets around them. There is a railway station in Cliffe itself: Lewes station. A little further out are Lewes Castle (0.5 miles west) and Lewes Victoria Hospital (1.1 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Cliffe Hill and Malling Down.
What we are asked to look at in Cliffe
Lots of homes have redundant stacks. If a stack is capped or blocked without ventilation, moisture can build up inside. That can lead to damp patches on chimney breasts, even with the roof in good order.
Look out for signs like these:
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
If you own a rental within reach of Lewes station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Questions to ask before you book
- Their insurance cover
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Will the report include photos?
What happens if roof problems are left?
Chimneys are easy to forget because you rarely see the top of them. Defects tend to go unseen until there’s a stain. A survey gives you a clear picture before that happens. On a bungalow or cottage around Cliffe, the roof sits close to the rooms below, so a small leak can mark a ceiling within a few storms. Finding the cause first saves a second job inside.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why book us in Cliffe
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Visits on any day of the week
- An independent look at the roof
- More than 5,000 surveys completed