West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Hoyle, West Sussex
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching across Hoyle, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Get in touch for a price.
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
About our chimney survey in Hoyle
Redundant chimneys are common, especially where fires have been replaced by central heating. A disused stack still needs looking after. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. You get photos of each stack and our recommendations. Typical surveys look at bricks with flaking faces and unused flues sealed without airflow, across flaunching, brick chimney stacks and lead flashings.
Somewhere as small as Hoyle, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some 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 often need the most attention.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- Hoyle (GU29)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Surveys for landlords and agents in Hoyle
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the chimney stack, with photographs.
Tips from our surveys
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. A few suggestions:
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
Questions about the findings are always welcome. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. That helps stop damp building up inside.
Chimney surveys around Hoyle
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. About 2.2 miles north-west lies Cowdray House, a reminder of how long the area around Hoyle has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead.
The streets around a church like The Parish Church of St James are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Hoyle is about 9 miles north of Chichester, in West Sussex. In Hoyle, as across West Sussex, every roof gets the same careful survey. Hoyle is one of the places in West Sussex we cover for chimney surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Portsmouth page.
We work across the GU29 postcode area for chimney surveys. Other places close to Hoyle include Heyshott (1 mile south-west), Heyshott Green (1 mile west), Cocking Causeway (2 miles north-west), West Lavington (2 miles north-west) and Cocking (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Bognor Regis (12 miles south), Chichester (9 miles south), Littlehampton (13 miles south-east), Emsworth (12 miles south-west), Rustington (13 miles south-east) and Storrington (12 miles east).
What’s near Hoyle
Around Hoyle, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Unicorn Inn and the streets around them. Well-known places in the area include Midhurst Community Hospital (2.6 miles north-west) and Lodsworth Castle (2.3 miles north-east). For a walk, there’s Levin Down and Graffham Common.
Why get it checked now?
Chimneys are easy to forget because you rarely see the top of them. Problems frequently go unnoticed until damp appears inside. A survey gives you a clear picture before that happens. Outbuildings and barns around Hoyle are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, how it can safely be seen and the package you choose.
Why book with us
- Visits on any day of the week
- Every finding written up with photos
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
See our cost guide and two real surveys.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
To price your survey, we look at:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- How big the roof is
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Booking your survey
A little information up front helps. It helps to include:
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- What’s prompted the survey
- When you need the report by
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
Common questions in Hoyle
Will you come out to Hoyle?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hoyle?
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.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it is applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with the freeholder or managing agent. Mention it when you contact us and we will explain what’s needed.
How long will you be at the property?
Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. The report follows by email.
My chimney looks like it’s leaning. What should I do?
A leaning stack should be looked at. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
Do you look in the loft space?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement.
Other services in Hoyle
Common roof problems in Hoyle
Flashings seal the gap where a stack passes through the roof. With age they can lift, split or come away from the joints. When flashings fail, water often shows up in the loft or on the chimney breast. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Bricks with flaking faces
Anyone responsible for a site like Midhurst Rother College will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Questions to ask before booking
- When you will get the report
- What experience they bring
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
How it works
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit normally takes roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Cottages and farmhouses around Hoyle often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave side gates unlocked
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Tell us where we can park nearby
How to book
Every survey is priced before it is booked, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.