West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Fontwell, West Sussex
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Fontwell. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and the South East.
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
How a chimney survey works in Fontwell
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We inspect the parts we can see safely and the parts the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it and you can then discuss it with them. Everything is written up with photos and our recommendations. Common reasons to book are lifted or split lead flashings and damp patches on chimney breasts, across chimney pots and cowls, brick chimney stacks and shared and party-wall stacks.
In a village or hamlet like Fontwell, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs frequently need the most attention.
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.
- Location
- Fontwell (BN18, PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Chimney surveys in Fontwell: local notes
The coast is about 5 miles or less from Fontwell, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles. Goodwood House, about 4.2 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Fontwell. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
If you own a rental within reach of Barnham station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Fontwell is about 5 miles north of Bognor Regis, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in Fontwell and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Our West Sussex coverage includes Fontwell and the places around it. You can also see our page for Portsmouth.
We cover every part of the BN18 and PO20 postcode area for chimney surveys. Streets in the area include London Road, Cooke Road and Steeplechase Way. Other places close to Fontwell include Eastergate (1 mile south), Slindon (1 mile north-east), Nyton (1 mile south-west), West Barnham (1 mile south) and Slindon Common (1 mile east). We also work in nearby towns such as Worthing (11 miles east), Bognor Regis (5 miles south), Chichester (6 miles west), Selsey (10 miles south-west), Littlehampton (6 miles south-east) and Lancing (14 miles east).
Near you in Fontwell
Around Fontwell, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Eastergate CofE Primary School, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Barnham station, about 1.6 miles south of the centre. A little further out are Tote Copse Castle (2.2 miles south-west) and Arundel and District Hospital (3.7 miles east). Open spaces near Fontwell include Bignor Hill and WWT Arundel.
Fontwell questions
Is Fontwell within the area you cover?
Yes, Fontwell is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Can a landlord with a rental near Barnham station book a roof survey?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you need, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
How do I arrange a chimney survey in Fontwell?
Simply call 07833 053749 or email us with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them.
Do you inspect the flue?
No. A flue inspection, sweep or gas safety check is a separate job. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
There are a few common causes: 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.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
It is worth having a leaning stack checked. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and recommend a structural engineer where it may be a structural concern.
How we price chimney surveys
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Getting in touch
There’s no need for technical words. Just tell us:
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- The property’s address and postcode
- When you need the report by
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Places near Fontwell
Other services in Fontwell
How the survey works
Where it is relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey usually takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Somewhere as small as Fontwell, 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 let us know how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- Every part we can see is checked: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach them.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
How to prepare
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
Arrange a survey
To get a price for chimney surveys in Fontwell, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us give you an accurate price.
Read more
Signs you need a chimney survey in Fontwell
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We note what’s visible in the loft space and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- A chimney out of line
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Ormiston Six Villages Academy, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Questions to ask before you book
- Will the report include photos?
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
DIY checks: what’s safe
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Fontwell
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
Where a roof is shared: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Let us know about it as you book and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
Tips from our surveys
Getting the most from a chimney survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
After the visit, we write up the report with photos of each stack. It covers the pots, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings, and any damp we found inside. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Look at your chimneys from the ground now and then, especially after strong winds. With binoculars, you can often see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.