East Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Horam, East Sussex
A careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Horam, with photos and a written report.
- A stack that appears to lean
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Lifted or split lead flashings
Chimney survey in Horam
If you’re buying a home with chimneys, it is worth knowing their condition before you exchange. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it. Common reasons to book are lifted or split lead flashings and bricks with flaking faces, across chimney pots and cowls, shared and party-wall stacks and flaunching.
In a village or hamlet like Horam, 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 everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
What you get is a clear record of the chimney stack on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later.
- Location
- Horam (TN21)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Horam: your questions answered
Will you come out to Horam?
Yes. Horam is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Is Horam in the area you cover?
We do. The survey and report are the same in Horam as anywhere else.
How can you see the top of the stack?
We inspect from wherever is safe: from the ground, windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there is access. Our Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where it applies. If part of a stack can’t be seen, the report says so.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, if the building owner or managing agent agrees access. We check the parts we’re given access to.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. We inspect whatever is safely visible and what you give us access to. Where a problem appears to be on next door’s side, we note it, so you can discuss it with them.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. It is not a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We check the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
Roof by roof
Lead flashings
Flashings can lift in wind or pull out of their mortar joints. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. We record any cracking and where it is.
Do you need a chimney survey in Horam?
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.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
For an older house near a landmark such as Christ Church, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Before you book anyone
- Will the report include photos?
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Is VAT included in the price?
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
When you need someone else
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
What affects the price in Horam
We confirm the exact price before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and the package you choose.
What we need to know
If you can, have these to hand when you contact us:
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
What we do, step by step
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. In total, it takes between one and two hours at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. In a small place like Horam, access is typically the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
How to prepare
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Keep pets in another room
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Booking a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or email us whenever suits you.
Read more
Local roofs in Horam
Older houses across Sussex frequently have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. 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. With Horselunges Manor about 3.2 miles south, Horam sits in an area with a long building history. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
Take a building like Maynards Green Community Primary School: its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Horam is about 5 miles north of Hailsham, in East Sussex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Horam can all book chimney surveys. Horam is one of the towns and villages in East Sussex where we work for chimney surveys. We also survey roofs in Brighton.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: TN21. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Little London Road, Toll Wood Road and Beauford Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Burlow (1 mile south-west), Vines Cross (1 mile east), Maynard's Green (1 mile north), Lions Green (1 mile north-west) and Warbleton (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (10 miles south), Hastings (15 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (11 miles south-east), Seaford (12 miles south-west), Lewes (11 miles west) and Hailsham (5 miles south).
Near you in Horam
We work in homes and buildings around Horam Inn. Well-known places in the area include Sussex Farm Museum (under half a mile north-west) and Hellingly Hospital Railway (3.1 miles south). For a walk, there’s Selwyns Wood.
Why act early in Horam
Loose pots and bricks on a stack are a safety concern. A survey picks them out so they can be made safe by a roofer. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Prices start from £150, including VAT, for a Basic Survey. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. You’ll know the exact price before booking.
What you get with us
- 98% customer satisfaction
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Read our cost guide and our case studies.