East Sussex · London and the South East
Flimwell Chimney Survey
A careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Flimwell, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Worn or missing pointing
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- A chimney out of line
Checking the roof from the ground
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That is where a survey comes in.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
About our chimney survey in Flimwell
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We look at whatever is safely visible and what the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it, so you can talk to them. You get a photo-illustrated written report and what we recommend. Common reasons to book are a stack that appears to lean and pots or cowls that look unsafe, across chimney pots and cowls, flaunching and shared and party-wall stacks.
In a village or hamlet like Flimwell, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs frequently need the most attention.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Place
- Flimwell (TN5)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Flimwell
Is my home in Flimwell listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Etchingham station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details.
How do I arrange a chimney survey in Flimwell?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know the address and what you want to find out. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
The survey covers the pots and cowls, the flaunching, the pointing, the bricks and the flashings. We also check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft space where we can reach. Everything is written up with photos.
What if it rains on the day?
It depends on the weather and the survey. In high wind or heavy rain, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, so we’d move the date with you.
What do I do with the report?
You receive the written report by email, with photographs and recommendations. It’s yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Flimwell
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the chimney stack, with photographs, useful for planning maintenance.
Common roof problems in Flimwell
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which can make a stack lean.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- A stack that appears to lean
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Cracked or missing flaunching
If you let a flat or house near Etchingham station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What the survey will not cover
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- How soon the report will arrive
Chimney surveys around Flimwell
Historic houses like Scotney Castle, about 3.1 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Flimwell goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs, and oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of East Sussex’s older buildings. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Take an older house close to St Augustine's Church: corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Flimwell is about 10 miles south-east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in East Sussex. Roofs in Flimwell get the same thorough look as anywhere else in East Sussex. Flimwell is one of the towns and villages in East Sussex we cover. Maidstone is in our area too.
Here we cover the TN5 postcode area for chimney surveys. Whether your property is on High Street, London Road and Corner Farm Close or anywhere close by, we can help. Flimwell sits on or near the B2087. Other places close to Flimwell include Stonecrouch (2 miles north-west), Ticehurst (2 miles west), Three Leg Cross (2 miles west), Cooper's Corner (2 miles south-east) and Bedgebury Cross (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Hastings (14 miles south), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles south), Hailsham (15 miles south-west), Crowborough (12 miles west), St Leonards (14 miles south) and Hastings Old Town (15 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Flimwell
Flimwell’s nearest station is Etchingham station, roughly 3 miles south. Well-known places in the area include Ticehurst House Hospital (2 miles west) and Finchcocks Musical Museum (3.5 miles north). Open spaces near Flimwell include Bewl Water.
Roof by roof
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. Caught early, it is often a small job.
Brick stacks
Most chimney stacks are built of brick, with mortar joints that wear over time. We check the bricks for spalling and the joints for erosion.
Also near Flimwell
More services for Flimwell
The survey, step by step
On the day, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. After that, we look at everything we can see safely. The survey normally takes an hour or two for most houses, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Around Flimwell, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it helps to know whether there is a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- 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.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Before we arrive
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Keep pets in another room
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Booking a survey
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Read more
When you need someone else
It is a careful look at the chimney stack, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Conditions inside walls
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Flimwell
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching