East Sussex · London and the South East
Magham Down Chimney Survey
Get a clear view of the chimney stack at a property in Magham Down from an independent roof surveyor. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- A stack that appears to lean
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Staining on walls around the chimney
How a chimney survey works in Magham Down
Each stack is looked at from the safest viewpoints available: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the loft space where it is safe. With our Premium Survey, a drone inspection is included where it applies. If we can’t see part of the stack, the report makes that clear. Every defect we find is photographed and described in plain words. We survey chimney breasts, lead flashings and chimney pots and cowls, and common reasons people get in touch are eroded joints in the brickwork and disused chimneys trapping moisture.
In a small place like Magham Down, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
Nothing in the report is left vague: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Where
- Magham Down (BN27)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
You do not need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Rural addresses near Magham Down can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- 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.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before the survey
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Booking a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
Magham Down homes and their roofs
About 1.7 miles west lies Horselunges Manor, a reminder of how long the area around Magham Down has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs, and the county’s older buildings include oast houses and Wealden hall houses. 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 Polegate station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. Anyone responsible for a site like Hailsham Community College will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Magham Down is about 2 miles north-east of Hailsham, in East Sussex. Wherever you are in Magham Down, we can carry out chimney surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Across East Sussex, we cover Magham Down. Brighton is in our area too.
Here we cover the BN27 postcode area for chimney surveys. Whether your property is on Old Road and Nodes Lane or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover Hellingly (1 mile west), Upper Horsebridge (1 mile west), Hailsham (2 miles south-west), Lower Horsebridge (2 miles west) and Tile Hurst (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (7 miles south), Hastings (12 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (8 miles east), Seaford (11 miles south-west), Lewes (12 miles west) and Crowborough (13 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Magham Down
The closest station to Magham Down is Polegate station, roughly 4.5 miles south-west. Well-known places in the area include Amberstone Hospital (0.5 miles west) and Herstmonceux Castle (2.4 miles east).
Tips from our surveys
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It covers the pots, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings, and any damp we found inside. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Check your stacks from the street or garden after a storm. With binoculars, you can often see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.
How we price chimney surveys
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. That comes down to:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- Roof area
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Booking your survey
The more you tell us, the easier it is to price the survey. When you get in touch, it helps to mention:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Anything about access we should know
- What’s prompted the survey
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or email us, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
DIY checks: what’s safe
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Magham Down: your questions answered
Is Magham Down within the area you cover?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Can a landlord with a rental near Polegate station book a roof survey?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and some details.
Do you need to go on the roof to check the chimney?
We look from ground level, from windows and from the loft where it is safe. Where it applies, our Premium Survey adds a drone inspection for a closer view. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
What happens after the survey?
You will get the report by email. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. We inspect what can be seen safely and what you give us access to. Where a problem appears to be on next door’s side, we note it, so you can discuss it with them.
Will you check the loft?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there’s safe access. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement, as far as the space allows.
What’s in the report?
You get our findings in writing, part by part, with photos, finishing with recommendations. Points are put in order of urgency where relevant.
Also near Magham Down
Other services in Magham Down
Why act early in Magham Down
A leaning stack should be looked at sooner rather than later. Our survey records it and says when a structural engineer should look at it, so you can decide what to do next. Around Magham Down, older homes frequently have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it’s left.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why book with us
- Over 20 years’ experience
- PI and public liability insurance
- An independent look at the roof
- A written report with photos
See how roof surveys are priced or what we found on two real jobs.
When you need someone else
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Magham Down
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts