West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Durfold Wood
We carry out chimney surveys in Durfold Wood and the rest of West Sussex. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Flaunching that has broken away
DIY checks: what’s safe
It’s useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book and it will help the survey.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
About our chimney survey in Durfold Wood
A chimney survey is about the outside of the stack and the roof around it. It is 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. If something we see points to the flue, we’ll say so. If you’ve noticed unused flues sealed without airflow and damp patches on chimney breasts, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on brick chimney stacks, lead flashings and chimney pots and cowls alike.
In a small place like Durfold Wood, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Durfold Wood (RH14)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips that help
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
If the report recommends a structural engineer, a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer, it will say why. It gives them a clear starting point.
Make sure redundant flues are capped with ventilation. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
What we do, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. A typical visit takes an hour or two at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Somewhere as small as Durfold Wood, access is often the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- 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
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Check we can get to the back of the property
How to book
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form to find out.
Advice
Durfold Wood homes and their roofs
An older home may be listed, or stand in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
If you live in an older home near Holy Trinity Church, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. If you own a rental within reach of Witley station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. Take a building like Plaistow and Kirdford Primary School: its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Durfold Wood is about 11 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. We provide chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Durfold Wood and the surrounding area. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. There’s also a page for Guildford.
We cover every part of RH14 for chimney surveys. Whether your property is on Dunsfold Road and Durfold Wood or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Durfold Wood: Plaistow (1 mile south-east), Ifold (2 miles south-east), Alfold Bars (3 miles east), Loxwood (3 miles east) and Alfold (3 miles east). Further out, we also cover Horsham (11 miles east), Storrington (13 miles south-east), Billingshurst (7 miles south-east), Bewbush (15 miles east), Roffey (12 miles east) and Southwater (11 miles east).
Around Durfold Wood
For rail, the closest station is Witley station, about 4.5 miles north-west. Other landmarks nearby include Haslemere and District Hospital (5.8 miles west). For a walk, there is Shillinglee Lake and Hydon's Ball.
What we look for on each type of roof
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. Caught early, it is often a small job.
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. Any spalling is noted with photos.
Also near Durfold Wood
More services for Durfold Wood
What a chimney survey does not cover
We only report whatever is safely visible on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
- Whether the flue is safe to use
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
Common questions in Durfold Wood
How do I find out if my home in Durfold Wood is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Will you come out to Durfold Wood?
Yes, Durfold Wood is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, if whoever owns or manages the building agrees access. We check the parts we’re given access to.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Do you use drones?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
It depends on its condition and your plans. We record how the stack is doing and whether it is capped with ventilation. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need consent.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Let us know which days suit you when you book.
What happens if roof problems are left?
If a stack seems to lean, don’t leave it. Our survey records it and says when a structural engineer should look at it, so you can decide what to do next. Older cottages and farmhouses around Durfold Wood can have roof timbers that have been there a very long time, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, from £400 inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Why us?
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Take a look at our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.