West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Norton, West Sussex
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching around Norton, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
How the survey works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photographs, emailed to you. On timing, it normally takes between one and two hours at a typical home; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Around Norton, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- 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.
- Every part we can see is looked at: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access.
- You get a report with photographs and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- Keep pets in another room
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Let us know where we can park nearby
How to book
To get a price for chimney surveys in Norton, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Some details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.
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How a chimney survey works in Norton
A chimney stands up above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. In time, flaunching cracks, mortar washes out and flashings come loose. That lets water into the brickwork, which can show up as damp on a chimney breast or in the roof space. We record what we find with photographs and recommendations. If you’ve noticed damp on a chimney breast inside and lifted or split lead flashings, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Somewhere as small as Norton, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it is usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
The report records the chimney stack as we found it on the day. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later.
- Where
- Norton (PO20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a chimney survey does not cover
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Conditions inside walls
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
Chimney surveys around Norton
The coast is about 5 miles or less from Norton, 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. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near The Parish Church of St Mary, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. Goodwood House, about 2.9 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Norton. Older roofs nearby frequently mix original materials with later repairs, and the survey shows where each one is. For landlords with property near Barnham station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
Norton is about 4 miles north of Bognor Regis, in West Sussex. Whether the building in Norton is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof on a weekday or at the weekend. Our West Sussex coverage includes Norton and the places around it. Our Portsmouth page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the PO20 postcode area for chimney surveys. We also cover Crockerhill (1 mile north-west), East Hampnett (1 mile west), Nyton (1 mile south-east), Aldingbourne (1 mile south) and Westergate (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Worthing (12 miles east), Bognor Regis (4 miles south), Chichester (4 miles west), Selsey (9 miles south-west), Littlehampton (7 miles east) and Emsworth (11 miles west).
Around Norton
Around Norton, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Winterton Arms Public House and Eastergate CofE Primary School, among other places. The nearest railway station is Barnham station, roughly 2.3 miles south-east. A little further out are St Richard's Hospital (3.9 miles west) and Tote Copse Castle (1.1 miles south).
Tips from our surveys
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
If anything in the report isn’t clear, just ask us. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
Norton questions
Is my home in Norton listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it’s worth checking before planning any.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Norton?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
Every part of the stack we can see from safe positions: from the pots and flaunching down to the flashings. We also note leaning, redundant stacks and damp inside.
How experienced are you?
We have been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Will you check the loft?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement, as far as the space allows.
Do you cover Norton?
Yes. We survey roofs in Norton and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and South East England. For a price, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Will I get photos?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and the report uses them to show each finding alongside our recommendations.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Norton
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. Older and listed buildings around Norton may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why book us in Norton
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
Can I check my roof myself?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That is where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.