West Sussex · London and the South East
Highleigh Chimney Survey
A careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Highleigh, with photographs and a written report.
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Mortar washing out of the joints
Chimney survey in Highleigh
If a chimney looks out of line, it’s worth getting it checked. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, often after years of flue gases and damp. The survey notes how the stack looks, how far it seems to lean and the state of the bricks and joints. Where it may be a structural concern, we’ll recommend a structural engineer. We survey lead flashings, chimney breasts and brick chimney stacks, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are pots or cowls that look unsafe and unused flues sealed without airflow.
Older buildings in small places like Highleigh may be 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. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is frequently expected.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, and where it can wait, that is said too.
- Place
- Highleigh (PO20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips that help
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
If anything in the report is not clear, just ask us. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. It’s far simpler than rebuilding a stack later.
Nearby places to Highleigh
What else we do in Highleigh
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney breasts and the loft
Stains on timbers or brickwork around the stack can point to a leak. We record what we see with photos.
Chimney pots and cowls
On redundant flues, we check how the pots are capped. Capping without ventilation can trap moisture.
Highleigh questions
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Highleigh?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details like ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Highleigh?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
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. We look at each one and note the most likely cause.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. It is not a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We look at the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
How long does the survey take?
It typically takes an hour or two on an ordinary house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. We’ll confirm the timing when booking.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, over more than 20 years, and 98% of clients are satisfied.
What does a chimney survey cover?
We check the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings. Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. You get a written report with photos.
The survey, step by step
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photos, sent to you by email. As for time on site, it usually takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Rural addresses near Highleigh can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You tell us 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Arrange a survey
You can call us seven days a week. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Read more
Local roofs in Highleigh
Highleigh is within about 2 miles of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Near the sea, metal fixings wear faster and loose pieces on a roof are more likely to lift. Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
For an older house near a landmark like St Mary Our Lady Sidlesham, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. Take a building like Sidlesham Primary School: its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Highleigh is about 3 miles north of Selsey, in West Sussex. In Highleigh, as across West Sussex, every roof gets the same careful survey. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
Every address in PO20 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Critchel's Lane, Highleigh Road and Green Lane. Close by, we survey roofs in Almodington (1 mile west), Birdham (2 miles north-west), Somerley (2 miles west), Earnley (2 miles west) and Shipton Green (3 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (5 miles east), Chichester (4 miles north), Selsey (3 miles south), Littlehampton (12 miles east), Emsworth (8 miles north-west) and Rustington (13 miles east).
Near you in Highleigh
The closest station to Highleigh is Chichester station, about 3.9 miles north of the centre. A little further out are Chichester Castle (4.5 miles north) and Selsey Lifeboat Museum (3.5 miles south). For a walk, there is Pilsey Island.
Common roof problems in Highleigh
A stack takes the weather from every direction. Frost works into cracks in the flaunching and pointing, and rain soaks into worn brickwork. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Bricks with flaking faces
Landlords with a home close to Chichester station may find that a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- What the survey will not cover
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
DIY checks: what’s safe
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Highleigh
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.