East Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Iford, East Sussex
An experienced roof surveyor for chimney surveys in Iford. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Mortar washing out of the joints
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
- Whether the flue is safe to use
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Iford
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
Chimney survey in Iford: what you get
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. 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 works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. We survey lead flashings, shared and party-wall stacks and flaunching, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are worn or missing pointing and damp patches on chimney breasts.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- Iford (BN7)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What else we do in Iford
Useful tips for Iford property owners
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Make sure fixings on the stack are secure
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
With a shared stack, the report can help when talking to next door. The photos show the problem and which side it’s on, as far as we could see.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
Why it is worth a survey now in Iford
A leaning stack should be looked at sooner rather than later. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you can decide what to do next. In a place like Iford, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why book with us
- Prices that include VAT
- Weekday and weekend surveys
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
Read what a roof survey costs or our case studies.
Common questions in Iford
Is my home in Iford listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
I let a flat near Lewes station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and agents book with us as well as owners. You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a few details.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in, while outside access can be discussed when booking.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Normally it is water getting in from outside, or condensation in a sealed stack. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped, and record what we find.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
Do not ignore it. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down. We record its condition with photos, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it is stable.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
More than 5,000 surveys over 20+ years.
Roof by roof
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. Any spalling is noted with photos.
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
Common roof problems in Iford
Many chimneys are no longer used. If a stack is capped or blocked without ventilation, moisture can build up inside. Damp patches can appear on chimney breasts even when nothing is leaking.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
The streets around a church like St Pancras Church (Kingston near Lewes) are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Before you book anyone
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Will the report include photos?
Local roofs in Iford
Iford is within about 4 miles of the coast, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Near the sea, metal fixings wear faster and loose pieces on a roof are more likely to lift. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs, and oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of East Sussex’s older buildings. Whatever the covering, it is frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
Anyone responsible for a site like Iford and Kingston Church of England Primary School will know that large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. If you own a rental within reach of Lewes station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Iford is about 2 miles south of Lewes, in East Sussex. We visit Iford as part of our work across East Sussex, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Iford is one of the places in East Sussex where we work for chimney surveys.
Here we cover the BN7 postcode area for chimney surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Kingston near Lewes (1 mile north-west), Northease (1 mile south-east), Rodmell (1 mile south-east), Southover (2 miles north-east) and Lewes (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (14 miles east), Seaford (7 miles south-east), Hailsham (12 miles east), Uckfield (10 miles north-east), Newhaven (5 miles south-east) and Peacehaven (4 miles south).
What’s near Iford
We work in homes and buildings around Juggs Arms Public House, Priory School and Railway Land. Iford’s nearest station is Lewes station, about 1.7 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Lewes Castle (1.7 miles north-east) and Brighton And Hove Albion Football Club Museum (3.3 miles west). For a walk, there’s Offham Hill and Southerham Farm.
How the survey works
Photographs are taken throughout the visit, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes between one and two hours for a house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. For a village or hamlet like Iford, the journey is planned ahead of time: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect what can be seen safely, inside and out.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before we arrive
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.