West Sussex · London and the South East
Ditchling Common Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Ditchling Common. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Cracked or missing flaunching
Chimney survey in Ditchling Common: what you get
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is frequently shared with next door. We look at whatever is safely visible and what the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it, so you can talk to them. Everything is written up with photos and what we recommend. We survey chimney breasts, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney pots and cowls, and the problems we are asked to look at most are cracked or missing flaunching and mortar washing out of the joints.
In a small place like Ditchling Common, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. 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.
Where we cannot see part of the chimney stack, the report says so. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Ditchling Common (BN6)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Local roofs in Ditchling Common
With Ockenden Manor about 4.7 miles north-west, Ditchling Common sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. 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 let a flat or house near Burgess Hill station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Ditchling Common is about 2 miles south-east of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. We carry out chimney surveys in Ditchling Common for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Across West Sussex, we cover Ditchling Common and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Brighton page.
We cover every part of the BN6 postcode area for chimney surveys. Other places close to Ditchling Common include Wivelsfield (1 mile north), Wivelsfield Green (2 miles north-east), Plumpton Green (2 miles south-east), Streat (2 miles south) and East Chiltington (3 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Crawley (12 miles north), Horsham (13 miles north-west), Haywards Heath (4 miles north), East Grinstead (13 miles north), Shoreham-by-Sea (11 miles south-west) and Lancing (13 miles south-west).
Near you in Ditchling Common
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Burgess Hill Academy and Burgess Hill Girls. For rail, the closest station is Burgess Hill station, roughly 1.6 miles west of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Clayton Castle (3.4 miles south-west) and Burgess Hill Museum (1.7 miles north-west). For a walk, there’s Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve and Ditchling Beacon.
Ditchling Common: your questions answered
Is Ditchling Common within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Ditchling Common?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. It’s 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.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
A leaning stack should be looked at. Our survey notes how it looks and the condition of the bricks and joints, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
How do I arrange a chimney survey in Ditchling Common?
Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address. We will ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
Our stack is shared. Can you still survey it?
Yes. We look at the parts we can see safely and the parts you can give us access to. Where a problem appears to be on next door’s side, we note it and you can raise it with them.
What’s in the survey report?
Written findings with photos, explaining the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our recommendations, in order of urgency where relevant. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
Also near Ditchling Common
More services for Ditchling Common
Surveys for landlords and agents in Ditchling Common
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
Landlords and letting agents in Ditchling Common book surveys as well as homeowners. A written report with photographs gives you a clear record of the chimney stack, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings
Flashings can lift in wind or pull out of their mortar joints. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. Caught early, it’s frequently a small job.
Common roof problems in Ditchling Common
Flashings seal the gap where a stack passes through the roof. With age they can lift, split or come away from the joints. When flashings fail, water often shows up in the loft or on the chimney breast. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Mortar washing out of the joints
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Birchwood Grove Community Primary School, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- How long the report takes to arrive
What we cannot see
Before booking, it’s worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Whether the flue is safe to use
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
Useful tips for Ditchling Common property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare.
Check redundant flues are capped with ventilation. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
The survey, step by step
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that is worrying you. We then inspect everything that can be seen safely. The survey typically takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Older rural homes like those around Ditchling Common 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.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Getting a price
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.