Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Hove Chimney Survey
Find out the condition of the chimney stack at your property in Hove. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Hove
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 shared and party-wall stacks, flaunching and chimney pots and cowls, and people most often book us about disused chimneys trapping moisture and damp on a chimney breast inside.
Around Hove, semis and terraces share chimneys, gutters and roof lines with the house next door. When a stack or gutter is shared, the problem may not be on your side alone. We can only inspect what we have access to, so shared parts are reported as far as they can safely be seen. It helps to mention any shared stacks or gutters when booking.
You receive the findings by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Hove (BN3, BN1, BN52)
- Wider area
- Brighton and Hove
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Brick stacks
Brick stacks rely on sound pointing to keep water out. The survey looks for crumbling bricks and worn or missing mortar.
Chimney breasts and the loft
In the loft, staining around the stack often shows where water is getting in. What we find is photographed and described.
Other services in Hove
What a chimney survey does not cover
It is a careful look at the chimney stack, not the whole story. The main limits are:
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
If you’re not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
Tips that help
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
Questions about the findings are always welcome. 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 is far simpler than rebuilding a stack later.
Do you need a chimney survey in Hove?
TV aerials, satellite dishes and their brackets are frequently fixed to chimneys. The extra load in wind can work bricks and joints loose. We check fixings on the stack as part of the survey.
Things that frequently lead to a survey include:
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Worn or missing pointing
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near Churchill Square, a roof report helps plan work around trading rather than after a leak.
What to check before booking
- Are they insured for the work?
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
What happens if roof problems are left?
Cracked flaunching and worn pointing are frequently modest repairs when they’re caught early. Leave it, and frost can work the stack loose and the job gets bigger. Extensions and dormers on homes around Hove often hide the first signs of trouble at their joints with the main roof. A few wet winters later, it can mean new plaster and decorating as well as roof work.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. You will know the figure before booking.
Why us?
- A written report with photographs
- 20+ years’ experience
- Package prices that include VAT
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
Common questions in Hove
Is the coastal weather around Hove hard on roofs?
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.
Is my home in Hove listed or in a conservation area?
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, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only if it is safe. We look at everything that can be seen safely: from the ground, from windows, from inside the loft space, from the roof where it’s safe and by drone where applicable. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Does someone need to be in?
Not always. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We note visible signs such as sagging or deflection, but we don’t carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Chimney surveys around Hove
Hove is within about 1 mile of the coast, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Near the sea, metal fixings wear faster and loose pieces on a roof are more likely to lift, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
If you live near a park such as St. Ann's Well Gardens, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls. Take a building like St Andrew's CofE (Aided) Primary School: large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Hove is about 2 miles west of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. We survey roofs in Hove and the rest of Brighton and Hove. Hove is one of the towns and villages in Brighton and Hove where we work for chimney surveys.
Chimney surveys in BN3, BN1 and BN52 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Farm Road, York Road and Aymer Road and the roads around them. Hove sits on or near the A270 and A2023, so getting to you is simple. Other places close to Hove include Brighton and Hove (1 mile north-west), Brunswick (1 mile south-east), Aldrington (1 mile west), Prestonville (1 mile north-east) and West Blatchington (1 mile north). We also work in nearby towns such as Kemptown (3 miles east), Whitehawk (3 miles east), Moulsecoomb (3 miles east), Hollingbury (3 miles north-east), Bevendean (3 miles east) and Saltdean (6 miles east). Being one of Brighton and Hove’s larger places, Hove has homes, rented property and businesses of every kind.
Around Hove
In Hove, that means homes and buildings near The Drive Prep School, St. Ann's Well Gardens and The Urchin pub. There is a railway station in Hove itself: Hove station. Well-known places in the area include British Engineerium (0.9 miles north) and Montefiore Hospital (0.7 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Whitehawk Hill and Thundersbarrow Hill.
How the survey works
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs, sent to you by email. As for time on site, most surveys take an hour or two at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Most visits in a town like Hove start at the front of the house and work round to the back. Rear gardens and side paths frequently give the best view of extensions and back slopes, so unlocked gates help. The loft comes next, where there’s safe access.
- You let us know how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access.
- The findings are written up with photos and recommendations and emailed to you.
Before we arrive
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
How to book
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. To book or ask a question, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.