West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Cote, West Sussex
Know where you stand with the chimney stack before you decide what to do next. Chimney surveys in Cote, with photographs and a clear written report.
- Bricks with flaking faces
- A chimney out of line
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
About our chimney survey in Cote
A chimney survey is about the outside of the stack and the roof around it. 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. We will tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. We’re often asked to look into redundant stacks capped without ventilation and pots or cowls that look unsafe, across brick chimney stacks, shared and party-wall stacks and flaunching.
In a small place like Cote, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
The report records the chimney stack as we found it on the day. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Place
- Cote (BN13)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Cote
Is the coastal weather around Cote hard on roofs?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Durrington-On-Sea station?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
Have it checked rather than leaving it. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down. The survey records what we can see, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it is stable.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We check the roof, not the whole building, and it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
The survey covers the pots and cowls, the flaunching, the pointing, the bricks and the flashings. Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access. You get a written report with photos.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
It can come from several places: water getting in at the top, through the brickwork or at the flashings, or moisture trapped in a stack with no ventilation. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause.
What should I do with a chimney I do not use?
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.
Why act early in Cote
Damp in a chimney breast normally gets worse while the cause is left. It can spoil decoration and plaster. Knowing whether it’s the flaunching, flashings, brickwork or ventilation means the right fix can be planned. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Cote, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You will know the price for the job before booking.
Why us?
- Package prices that include VAT
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- 20+ years’ experience
See what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
When to book a survey in Cote
Flashings seal the gap where a stack passes through the roof. They can lift in wind, crack with age or pull out of the mortar joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Bricks with flaking faces
Historic houses such as Ecclesden Manor, about 2.5 miles south-west, show how far back building around Cote goes. Older roofs nearby often mix original materials with later repairs, and the survey shows where each one is.
Before booking anyone
- When you will get the report
- What insurance they carry
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
What we look for on each type of roof
Flaunching
Sitting at the very top, flaunching is fully exposed. The survey checks for cracking and gaps around each pot.
Lead flashings
Mortar fillets are sometimes used where lead would normally be. They tend to crack, so we look at them closely.
Towns and villages near Cote
Other services in Cote
What happens on the day
Every visit follows the same pattern: we listen to what’s been worrying you, look at the roof from every safe viewpoint, photograph what we find and make notes for the report. It typically takes an hour or two for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Around Cote, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- You let us know how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Preparing for the visit
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Booking a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or send us an email when you are ready.
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What a chimney survey looks like in Cote
Cote lies within about 3 miles of the sea, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Near the sea, metal fixings wear faster and loose pieces on a roof are more likely to lift, while driving rain finds any gap. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
If you look after a building such as Durrington Junior School, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale. If you let a flat or house near Durrington-On-Sea station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Cote is about 2 miles north-west of Worthing, in West Sussex. From houses to flats and shops in Cote, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Cote is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work for chimney surveys. Brighton is in our area too.
Here we cover the BN13 postcode area for chimney surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Durrington (1 mile south-east), High Salvington (1 mile north-east), Clapham (1 mile west), Patching (2 miles west) and Findon (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Bognor Regis (12 miles west), Burgess Hill (15 miles north-east), Littlehampton (5 miles south-west), Shoreham-by-Sea (7 miles east), Lancing (4 miles east) and Rustington (4 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Cote
We work in homes and buildings around Durrington High School, Clapham Wood and Palatine Primary School and the streets around them. The closest station to Cote is Durrington-On-Sea station, about 1.8 miles south. Nearby you will also find The Acre (2.8 miles south-east) and Old Castle (1.7 miles south-east). Not far away are Highdown Hill.
When you need someone else
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.