West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in East Dean, West Sussex
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? We carry out chimney surveys in East Dean and across West Sussex.
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
About our chimney survey in East Dean
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is frequently shared with next door. We inspect the parts we can see safely and the parts the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it, so you can talk to them. You get a written report with photos and our recommendations. We survey brick chimney stacks, lead flashings and flaunching, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are flaunching that has broken away and flashings pulling away from the stack.
Older buildings in small places like East Dean may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the chimney stack, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- East Dean (PO18)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about chimney surveys in East Dean
Does a conservation area affect roof work in East Dean?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Do you cover smaller places like East Dean?
Yes, East Dean is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. Strong wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, so we’d move the date with you.
How fast do I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, let us know when you book.
What will the report tell me?
A photo-illustrated written report, explaining the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our recommendations, with the most urgent first where relevant. Standard adds moisture detection and a structural check; Premium adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies and structural analysis.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not always. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. We use safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies, and the report records anything we couldn’t see.
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. We look at each one and note the most likely cause.
What affects the price in East Dean
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- How big the roof is
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you need to know.
Booking your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- The property’s address and postcode
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- What kind of property and roof it is
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email, let us know about the property and we will point you to the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
What we do, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take between one and two hours at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. Older roofs in small places like East Dean can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- You let us know how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
How to book
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
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What a chimney survey looks like in East Dean
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. About 2.6 miles west lies West Dean House, a reminder of how long the area around East Dean has been built on. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
East Dean is about 6 miles north-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. We visit East Dean as part of our work across West Sussex. East Dean is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work. Our Portsmouth page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in PO18 is covered for chimney surveys. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Main Road, Chapel Row and Charlton Road. We also cover Charlton (1 mile west), Singleton (2 miles west), West Dean (3 miles west), Heyshott (3 miles north) and Cocking (3 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Worthing (15 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (8 miles south), Chichester (6 miles south-west), Selsey (13 miles south), Littlehampton (11 miles south-east) and Emsworth (10 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in East Dean
We work in homes and buildings around The Star And Garter Public House, among other places. Nearby you will also find Weald and Downland Gridshell (1.8 miles west) and Chichester Centre (5 miles south-west). For a walk, there’s Graffham Common and Levin Down.
More services for East Dean
Why it is worth a survey now in East Dean
Loose pots and bricks on a stack are a safety concern. A survey picks them out so they can be made safe by a suitable contractor. In a small place like East Dean, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Our price is from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT, and we will tell you which fits.
Why us?
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- PI and public liability insurance
What we’re asked to look at in East Dean
A stack takes the weather from every direction. Frost opens up cracks in the mortar, and rain gets into worn bricks and joints. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- A stack that appears to lean
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near The Parish Church of All Saints, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What happens after the report arrives
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- How soon the report will arrive
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That’s where a survey comes in.
How the survey changes by roof type
Brick stacks
Most chimney stacks are built of brick, with mortar joints that wear over time. The survey looks for crumbling bricks and worn or missing mortar.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Damp patches on chimney breasts often point to a problem above. We check them and at the stack in the loft where there is safe access.