West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Colworth
Wondering about the chimney stack at a property in Colworth? We carry out chimney surveys in Colworth and across West Sussex, with plain-English findings.
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Colworth
Chimney stacks take more weather than almost any other part of a house. Over the years, the flaunching cracks, the pointing wears and flashings lift. Water then gets into the stack and can show as damp on a chimney breast or a stain in the loft. A survey finds these problems and records them with photos. We survey shared and party-wall stacks, flaunching and chimney pots and cowls, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are damp patches on chimney breasts and flashings pulling away from the stack.
Somewhere as small as Colworth, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it is typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photographs show what each point refers to.
- Location
- Colworth (PO20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Leave it or get it looked at?
A loose pot or brick can fall from height. A survey picks them out so they can be made safe by a suitable contractor. For an older or listed building in a place like Colworth, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on the size and height of the roof, access and which survey you book.
Why book with us
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
Read how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Colworth
Landlords and agents in Colworth book surveys as well as homeowners. A report with photos gives you a clear record of the chimney stack, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
What a chimney survey looks like in Colworth
Colworth is within about 3 miles of the coast, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
Historic houses like Goodwood House, about 4 miles north-west, show how far back building around Colworth goes. On a period home nearby, the survey separates sound original work from tired later repairs. Homes near green spaces such as The Brooks Local Nature Reserve can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Colworth is about 2 miles north of Bognor Regis, in West Sussex. We carry out chimney surveys in Colworth for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Our West Sussex coverage includes Colworth and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
All of PO20 is covered for chimney surveys. We also cover Merston (1 mile west), Oving (2 miles north-west), Lagness (2 miles south-west), Runcton (2 miles west) and Shopwyke (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Worthing (13 miles east), Chichester (4 miles north-west), Selsey (7 miles south-west), Littlehampton (8 miles east), Emsworth (10 miles west) and Rustington (9 miles east).
Around Colworth
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Regis School and The Brooks Local Nature Reserve and the streets around them. Colworth’s nearest station is Bognor Regis station, about 2.5 miles south-east. Nearby you’ll also find Bognor Regis Museum (2.7 miles south-east) and Tote Copse Castle (1.3 miles north-east).
Prices for chimney surveys in Colworth
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- How big the roof is
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
What we need to know
Before you get in touch, it is useful to have:
- When you need the report by
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- The property’s address and postcode
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and give us some details about the property and we’ll suggest the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
What happens on the day
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, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take an hour or two for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. For a village or hamlet like Colworth, the journey is planned beforehand: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
How to prepare
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Keep pets in another room
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
How to book
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Advice
Can I check my roof myself?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
Do you need a chimney survey in Colworth?
TV aerials, satellite dishes and their brackets are frequently fixed to chimneys. Their weight and the wind on them can loosen bricks and pointing. We check fixings on the stack as part of the survey.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- A chimney out of line
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
If you let a flat or house near Bognor Regis station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Before booking anyone
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Whether the price includes VAT
- When you will get the report
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
FAQs for Colworth
Is the coastal weather around Colworth hard on roofs?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it normally shows, and Colworth is within about 3 miles of the coast.
I let a flat near Bognor Regis station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and letting agents book with us as well as owners. You can phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. A flue inspection, sweep or gas safety check is a separate job. We look at the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
What should I do with a chimney I don’t use?
It depends on its condition and your plans. We record how the stack is doing and whether it is capped with ventilation. If you are thinking of removing it, check with the council first in a conservation area or on a listed building.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, like cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them.
Will you go up on the roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.