East Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Northiam
Chimney surveys around Northiam, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Signs that a stack is leaning
Chimney survey in Northiam: what you get
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We look at what can be seen safely and what the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it and you can then discuss it with them. You get a written report with photographs and our recommendations. If you’ve noticed staining on walls around the chimney and signs that a stack is leaning, we can find out what’s behind it.
Some older homes in villages like Northiam are listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
What you get is a clear record of the chimney stack on the day we saw it. It is useful straight away, and a good reference for later.
- Place
- Northiam (TN31)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
With a shared stack, the report can help when talking to next door. It shows what we found and where from the viewpoints we used.
Look at your chimneys from the ground now and then, especially after strong winds. With binoculars, you can often see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney breasts and the loft
In the loft, staining around the stack often shows where water is getting in. What we find is photographed and described.
Chimney pots and cowls
Each pot is bedded into the flaunching, often with a cowl or cap on top. We check that they look secure and undamaged.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Northiam
With a portfolio of properties, you can book surveys for several addresses. To discuss a number of properties, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the chimney stack, which helps you plan work between tenancies.
Common roof problems in Northiam
Aerials and dishes are often fixed to stacks. The extra load in wind can work bricks and joints loose. Any fixings on the stack are checked and recorded.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
If you look after a building such as Northiam Church of England Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Before you book anyone
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- What the survey will not cover
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What experience they bring
Can I check my roof myself?
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: 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.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
How it works
Where it’s relevant and can be reached safely, the roof space is checked as well as the outside. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging. The whole visit typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at a typical home, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Somewhere like Northiam needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We check 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 we arrive
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Find any records of previous roof work
Getting a price
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before you book.
Advice
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Northiam
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. The wider area around Northiam has a long history of building, with Great Dixter about 0.5 miles west. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years.
Northiam is about 9 miles north of Hastings, in East Sussex. We provide chimney surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Northiam and nearby. We cover towns and villages across East Sussex. For surveys nearby, see our Maidstone page.
All of TN31 is covered for chimney surveys. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Station Road, Main Street and Elizabeth Gardens and the roads around them. You’ll find Northiam on the A268, so it is easy for us to get to. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Beckley (2 miles south-east), Beckley Furnace (3 miles south), Broad Oak (3 miles south), Flackley Ash (3 miles east) and Broadland Row (4 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Hastings (9 miles south), Bexhill-on-Sea (12 miles south-west), St Leonards (10 miles south), Hastings Old Town (10 miles south), Belmont (10 miles south) and Heathfield (15 miles west).
Around Northiam
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Hayes Arms Hotel. Other landmarks nearby include The C.M Booth Collection (4 miles north). The countryside around Northiam includes Flatropers Wood.
Places near Northiam
Also in Northiam
Your questions about chimney surveys in Northiam
How do I find out if my home in Northiam is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is 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.
Is Northiam within the area you cover?
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.
How can you see the top of the stack?
We use safe viewpoints rather than climbing onto the stack. Where applicable, our Premium Survey adds a drone inspection for a closer view. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
When does the report arrive?
It depends on the package: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. The report is emailed to you.
Do you look in the roof space?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there’s safe access. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, including flight restriction zones near airports. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.