East Sussex · London and the South East
Founthill Chimney Survey
We take a careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Founthill, with photos and a written report.
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Signs that a stack is leaning
Chimney survey in Founthill: what you get
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It isn’t a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. For the flue itself, you will need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. If something we see points to the flue, we will say so. We survey flaunching, chimney breasts and chimney pots and cowls, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are staining on walls around the chimney and bricks with flaking faces.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Place
- Founthill (BN8)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Cottages and farmhouses around Founthill often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Before we arrive
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
- Jot down any questions you want answered
How to book
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Read more
Roof by roof
Brick stacks
Many older stacks were built with lime mortar. We note where repairs should match the original mortar.
Rendered stacks
A rendered stack can mask problems in the bricks below. We look for cracks, hollow areas and staining.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Founthill
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the addresses.
Useful tips for Founthill property owners
Getting the most from a chimney survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. The photos show the problem and which side it is on, as far as we could see.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.
Chimney surveys in Founthill: local notes
There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so check with the council. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
For landlords with property near Uckfield station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. Take a building like Newick Church of England Primary School: long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Founthill is about 3 miles west of Uckfield, in East Sussex. Surveys in Founthill work the same way as everywhere we cover: a proper look at what can be seen safely, photos and a clear written report. We cover towns and villages across East Sussex. There’s also a page for Brighton.
Chimney surveys in BN8 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Newick (1 mile north-west), Chailey (1 mile west), North Chailey (2 miles west), South Street (2 miles south-west) and Mount Pleasant (2 miles south). Further out, we also cover Seaford (13 miles south), Lewes (6 miles south), Hailsham (12 miles south-east), Crowborough (9 miles north-east), Uckfield (3 miles east) and Newhaven (12 miles south).
Around Founthill
Around Founthill, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Royal Oak Inn, among other places. Founthill’s nearest station is Uckfield station, about 3.3 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Uckfield Community Hospital (3.7 miles east) and Heaven Farm Museum (3.9 miles north).
Honest limits
This is not a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- Hidden damage within the stack
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
Signs you need a chimney survey in Founthill
Flashings seal the gap where a stack passes through the roof. 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.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
For an older house near a landmark such as The Parish Church of St Mary, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
What to check before booking
- Which limits apply to the survey
- When you will get the report
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Whether you get a written report with photos
FAQs for Founthill
Can a landlord with a rental near Uckfield station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Is my home in Founthill listed or in a conservation area?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
How long will you be at the property?
Expect it to take roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. The written report follows by email.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
What do I do with the report?
We email you the written report with photos and recommendations. It’s yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
It is worth having a leaning stack checked. Our survey notes how it looks and the condition of the bricks and joints, and recommend a structural engineer where it may be a structural concern.