West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in East Lavant
Chimney surveys in East Lavant and the rest of West Sussex. Surveys run seven days a week.
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
Why get it checked now?
A leaning stack should be looked at sooner rather than later. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you know where you stand. For older village homes like those around East Lavant, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, from £400 including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in East Lavant
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
- 20+ years’ experience
- Plain-English reports with photos
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in East Lavant
Damp on a chimney breast can have several causes. Water may be getting in at the top through cracked flaunching or an uncapped pot, through the brickwork, or at the flashings. Condensation inside an unventilated stack is another common cause. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause. That points the work in the right direction. If you’ve noticed worn or missing pointing and redundant stacks capped without ventilation, we can find out what’s behind it.
Some older homes in villages like East Lavant are listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
The report records the chimney stack as we found it on the day. It is useful straight away, and a good reference for later.
- Location
- East Lavant (PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. All in, the survey normally takes about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. In a small place like East Lavant, access is normally the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We check the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before we arrive
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Book a survey
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or email us and give us some details about the property and we will recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Should I look at the roof myself first?
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
What affects the price in East Lavant
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Roof area
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Getting in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- When you need the report by
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Towns and villages near East Lavant
More services for East Lavant
East Lavant questions
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Chichester station?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you need.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in East Lavant?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
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.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it doesn’t include calculations. We’ll recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
How long does the survey take?
It normally takes about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. We will confirm the timing when you book.
How many surveys have you done?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Practical tips
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Check redundant flues are capped with ventilation. That helps stop damp building up inside.
East Lavant homes and their roofs
About 1.5 miles east lies Goodwood House, a reminder of how long the area around East Lavant has been built on. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary are often among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. Anyone responsible for a site like Lavant CofE Primary School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
East Lavant is about 2 miles north of Chichester, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in East Lavant as part of our work across London and the South East. Our West Sussex coverage includes East Lavant. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
All of PO18 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Pook Lane, Fordwater Road and Shop Lane or a nearby road, we can help. We also cover the places around East Lavant: Mid Lavant (1 mile north-west), Westerton (2 miles south-east), Westhampnett (2 miles south-east), Waterbeach (2 miles east) and Maudlin (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Bognor Regis (7 miles south-east), Selsey (9 miles south), Littlehampton (11 miles east), Emsworth (7 miles west), Rustington (12 miles east) and Storrington (15 miles east).
Around East Lavant
In East Lavant, that means homes and buildings near The Royal Oak Public House and Bishop Luffa School and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Chichester station, about 2.5 miles south of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Chichester Castle (2 miles south) and The Chichester City Museum (2.1 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Stoke Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
Common roof problems in East Lavant
Chimney stacks stand above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. 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.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- A stack that appears to lean
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
For landlords with property near Chichester station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Is VAT included in the price?
- How long the report takes to arrive
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos