West Sussex · London and the South East
Mackerel's Common Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys in Mackerel's Common and the rest of West Sussex. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends.
- A stack that appears to lean
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Flaunching that has broken away
Chimney survey in Mackerel's Common: what you get
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We check everything that’s safely in view and what the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it and you can then discuss it with them. Everything is written up with photos and what we recommend. If you’ve noticed bricks with flaking faces and pots or cowls that look unsafe, we can find out what’s behind it, on flaunching, brick chimney stacks and chimney pots and cowls alike.
In a small place like Mackerel's Common, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible.
- Location
- Mackerel's Common (RH14)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from Mackerel's Common
How do I find out if my home in Mackerel's Common is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Billingshurst station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details.
What will the report tell me?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, with photographs throughout. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too, so you know exactly what was covered.
What does a chimney survey cover?
We check the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings. Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. You get a written report with photos.
How experienced are you?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Roof by roof
Chimney breasts and the loft
Inside, chimney breasts can show damp when water gets into the stack. We check them and at the stack in the loft where there’s safe access.
Brick stacks
Frost can damage bricks that have soaked up water, making the faces flake away. We record any we can see.
What you can safely check yourself
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
What affects the price in Mackerel's Common
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Which survey package you book
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
What to let us know when you contact us
What helps most when you contact us:
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Anything about access we should know
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form when you are ready.
Nearby places to Mackerel's Common
More services for Mackerel's Common
What this survey can’t tell you
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
Local roofs in Mackerel's Common
With Petworth House about 4.6 miles south-west, Mackerel's Common 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. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
If you own a rental within reach of Billingshurst station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near The Parish Church of St John the Baptist, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Mackerel's Common is about 10 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. We provide chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Mackerel's Common. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex. For surveys nearby, see our Guildford page.
Every address in RH14 is covered for chimney surveys. Close by, we survey roofs in Kirdford (1 mile south), Plaistow (2 miles north), Ifold (2 miles north), Balls Cross (2 miles south-west) and Wisborough Green (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns like Horsham (10 miles east), Broadfield (15 miles east), Storrington (9 miles south-east), Billingshurst (5 miles east), Bewbush (15 miles east) and Angmering (15 miles south).
Landmarks near Mackerel's Common
For rail, the closest station is Billingshurst station, roughly 4.8 miles south-east of the centre. For a walk, there’s The Mens and Shillinglee Lake.
What we do, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a written report with photos, emailed to you. As for time on site, most surveys take about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. In a hamlet or village like Mackerel's Common, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access.
- You get a written report with photos and our recommendations.
Getting ready for the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Booking a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or email us. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Read more
Why act early in Mackerel's Common
A damp chimney breast seldom dries out until the cause is found. It can stain walls and damage plaster. Knowing whether it’s the flaunching, flashings, brickwork or ventilation means the right fix can be planned. In a small place like Mackerel's Common, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
There are three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why book with us
- Plain-English reports with photos
- Package prices that include VAT
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Take a look at our cost guide or what we found on two real jobs.