Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Kemptown, Brighton and Hove
Find out the condition of the chimney stack at your property in Kemptown from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- A stack that appears to lean
Chimney survey in Kemptown
A chimney survey looks at the stack and everything around it: the pots and cowls, the flaunching on top, the pointing, the brickwork and the flashings where it meets the roof. We also look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. You get a report with photographs and our recommendations. We survey single stacks on houses and groups of stacks on bigger buildings. We are often asked to look into worn or missing pointing and damp on a chimney breast inside, on lead flashings, shared and party-wall stacks and brick chimney stacks.
Houses in smaller places like Kemptown can face open ground, where wind and driving rain hit the roof harder. That weather tells first on ridges, verges, chimneys and flashings. A careful look shows whether anything has started to loosen before it lets water in. A loose ridge tile or slate gives the wind something to catch, and others soon follow.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Location
- Kemptown (BN2)
- Region
- Brighton and Hove
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Check unused flues are capped with ventilation
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. It shows what we found and where, as far as we could see.
Look at your chimneys from ground level now and then, particularly after strong winds. With binoculars, you can frequently see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.
Checking the roof from ground level
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Questions from Kemptown
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Kemptown?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Kemptown?
Frequently, yes. Within about 1 mile of the sea, as Kemptown is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
How do I arrange a chimney survey in Kemptown?
Just phone 07833 053749 or email us. We will ask a few questions, confirm the price and agree a date.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
Do you inspect the flue?
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.
What do you check on a chimney?
The survey covers the pots and cowls, the flaunching, the pointing, the bricks and the flashings. We also check chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach. Everything is written up with photographs.
Nearby places to Kemptown
Also in Kemptown
How it works
Safety comes first on every visit. We inspect whatever is safely visible, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. The survey typically takes about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. A visit to Kemptown is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed in advance. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. Tell us about any garages, outbuildings or extensions you want included.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- The stacks are looked at from the ground, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Where there’s safe access, we look at the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- You get a written report with photographs and our recommendations.
Preparing for the visit
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
Getting a price
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
What we can’t see
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will suggest the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Kemptown
The coast is about 1 mile or less from Kemptown, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles, while driving rain finds any gap. Historic houses like Royal Pavilion, about 1 mile west, show how far back building in the area around Kemptown goes. If you own one of the older houses, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Shop and office owners around Churchill Square may find that a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions. Trees in and around Queen's Park shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters. If you own a rental within reach of Brighton station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Kemptown is about 1 mile south-east of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. Whether the building in Kemptown is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. We cover towns and villages across Brighton and Hove, large and small.
We survey roofs across the BN2 postcode area for chimney surveys and the streets around it. You will find streets such as Abbey Road, Manor Road and Eastern Road. Other places close to Kemptown include Whitehawk (1 mile north-east), Carlton Hill (1 mile north-west), Hanover (1 mile north-west), Brighton (1 mile north-west) and West Hill (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Brighton and Hove (3 miles north-west), Hove (3 miles west), Aldrington (3 miles west), Withdean (3 miles north-west), Hangleton (4 miles north-west) and Patcham (4 miles north-west). As one of the bigger places in Brighton and Hove, Kemptown has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
What’s near Kemptown
Around Kemptown, our work takes us to homes and buildings near St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School, Queen's Park and Saint George's Inn, among other places. The closest station to Kemptown is Brighton station, roughly 1.3 miles north-west. Nearby you will also find Brighton Motor Museum (less than half a mile south-west) and Churchill Square (1.4 miles west). Open spaces near Kemptown include Newmarket Hill and Whitehawk Hill.
What affects the price in Kemptown
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before you book. These are the things that affect it:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
A small, low roof with good viewpoints takes less time than a tall, complicated one, and the package matters as well. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Getting in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney pots and cowls
For unused flues, we check whether caps or cowls allow ventilation. Poor capping can lead to damp inside the stack.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Damp patches on chimney breasts often point to a problem above. We look at them and at the stack in the loft where there is safe access.