East Sussex · London and the South East
Doleham Chimney Survey
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? We carry out chimney surveys in Doleham and across East Sussex, with plain-English findings.
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
About our chimney survey in Doleham
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. Even when it is not used, a stack has to stay weathertight. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. You get photos of each stack and our recommendations. We survey chimney breasts, lead flashings and chimney pots and cowls, and the problems we are asked to look at most are damp on a chimney breast inside and disused chimneys trapping moisture.
Somewhere as small as Doleham, homes are often 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’s usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
Report times depend on the survey you book: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Location
- Doleham (TN35)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
Where another specialist is needed, such as a structural engineer or sweep, we explain why. That helps you brief them.
Check fixings on the stack are sound and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.
Why act early in Doleham
Damp in a chimney breast typically gets worse while the cause is left. It can spoil decoration and plaster. Finding the cause means the right work can be planned. In a small place like Doleham, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. You will know the exact price before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Doleham
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- A written report with photographs
- Visits on any day of the week
- 98% of clients satisfied
Landlords, agents and block managers in Doleham
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Doleham
How do I find out if my home in Doleham is listed?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Doleham?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there’s more wind, and more salt in the air. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch, and Doleham is within about 5 miles of the coast.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
There are a few common causes: cracked flaunching, worn pointing, failed flashings, uncapped pots, or damp trapped in an unventilated stack. We look at each one and note the most likely cause.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we do not carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
How long is the visit?
It normally takes an hour or two for a house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. The written report follows by email, on the timescale of your package.
How do I book a survey in Doleham?
It is easiest to call 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Give us the address and a few details about the roof. Surveys run seven days a week.
How the survey works
The visit has one job: to look at the chimney stack as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photographs go into the written report. The visit typically takes between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Somewhere like Doleham needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- 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.
How to prepare
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Booking a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? It’s easiest to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will explain the options and the price.
Advice
What we cannot see
A survey is a proper look at the chimney stack, but it cannot do everything. Its limits include:
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will point you to the right survey before booking. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
Local roofs in Doleham
Doleham is within about 5 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, 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, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
If you own a rental within reach of Doleham station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St George: its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. Historic houses such as Durhamford Manor, about 3.9 miles north-west, show how far back building around Doleham goes. On a period home nearby, the survey separates sound original work from tired later repairs.
Doleham is about 4 miles north-east of Hastings, in East Sussex. Whether the building in Doleham is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Across East Sussex, we cover Doleham. Our Maidstone page covers surveys nearby.
We work across TN35 for chimney surveys. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Doleham Lane and Doleham Close or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover Three Oaks (1 mile south-east), Broadland Row (2 miles north-east), Broad Street (2 miles east), Broad Oak (2 miles north) and Udimore (3 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns like Hastings (4 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (8 miles south-west), St Leonards (5 miles south-west), Hastings Old Town (4 miles south), Belmont (4 miles south) and Langney (15 miles south-west).
Near you in Doleham
Doleham has its own railway station: Doleham station. Well-known places in the area include Conquest Hospital (2.9 miles south-west) and Barn Theatre and Museum (1.8 miles south-west). Open spaces near Doleham include Church Wood and Robsack Wood.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
It’s useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us as you book and it will help the survey.