West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in East Preston, West Sussex
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in East Preston, using drones and thermal imaging where it applies. Get in touch for a price.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
About our chimney survey in East Preston
Damp on a chimney breast can have several causes. It might come in at the top, through worn pointing or porous bricks, or where the flashings meet the roof. Moisture trapped inside a stack with no ventilation can also cause damp. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause. That points the work in the right direction. If you are worried about redundant stacks capped without ventilation and a stack that appears to lean, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Around East Preston, older cottages sit alongside bungalows and newer houses. Older roofs can have slate, clay tiles or other traditional coverings, while many later ones have concrete tiles. Chimneys, valleys and gutters on older homes frequently need the most attention. The fixings under an older roof often fail before good slates or tiles do.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- East Preston (BN16, BN12)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in East Preston
East Preston is within about 1 mile of the coast, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles, 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. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
With Ecclesden Manor about 1.3 miles north, the area around East Preston has a long history. Older homes in the area may have roofs that need matching materials when work is done. For an older house near a landmark such as The Parish Church of St Mary, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
East Preston is about 2 miles east of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. In East Preston, as across West Sussex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex. We also survey roofs in Brighton.
Every address in BN16 and BN12 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on The Street, Station Road and Beechlands Close and the roads around them. Close by, we survey roofs in Angmering-on-Sea (1 mile south), West Kingston (1 mile south-east), West Preston (1 mile west), Kingston Gorse (1 mile south-east) and Angmering (1 mile north). Further out, we also cover Worthing (4 miles east), Bognor Regis (9 miles west), Chichester (13 miles west), Selsey (14 miles west), Shoreham-by-Sea (9 miles east) and Lancing (7 miles east).
Landmarks near East Preston
We work in homes and buildings around The Angmering School, among other places. The closest station to East Preston is Angmering station, about 0.6 miles north-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Lyminster Siege Castle (3.8 miles north-west) and Zachary Merton Hospital (1 mile west). For a walk, there’s Highdown Hill and WWT Arundel.
East Preston: your questions answered
Is the coastal weather around East Preston hard on roofs?
It can do. East Preston is within about 1 mile of the sea, and coastal roofs tend to see faster wear on metal parts and more wind lifting loose pieces.
How do I find out if my home in East Preston is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
Typically it is water getting in from outside, or condensation in a sealed stack. The survey looks at the stack, the flashings and the capping and records the likely cause.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. Where a material might contain it, like old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it.
Do you use drones?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and every flight depends on the airspace and the weather.
What happens after the survey?
We email you the written report with photos and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
What will the report tell me?
Written findings with photos, explaining the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our recommendations. 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.
How it works
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. All told, expect about one to two hours at most homes, and more on a big or complicated roof. A visit to East Preston is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed beforehand. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We look at every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Before the survey
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Getting a price
To get a price for chimney surveys in East Preston, phone 07833 053749 or email us. Some details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Read more
What affects the price in East Preston
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- The size of the roof
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before you book.
Booking your survey
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you’re ready.
Towns and villages near East Preston
Also in East Preston
When to book a survey in East Preston
Where a chimney meets the roof, lead flashings keep water out. With age they can lift, split or come away from the joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead is also a target for theft.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Worn or missing pointing
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
If you let a flat or house near Angmering station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Before booking anyone
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What insurance they carry
- Their report turnaround times
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Check your stacks from ground level after strong winds
Questions about the findings are always welcome. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one.
Make sure fixings on the stack are sound and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Less load on the stack means less strain in wind.
Landlord and commercial surveys in East Preston
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.