East Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Old Heathfield
A careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Old Heathfield, with photographs and a written report.
- A chimney out of line
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Staining on walls around the chimney
Chimney survey in Old Heathfield
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 loft space. We record what we find with photos and recommendations. We survey lead flashings, brick chimney stacks and flaunching, and people most often book us about loose, cracked or missing pots and frost-damaged brickwork on the stack.
Somewhere as small as Old Heathfield, homes are often 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. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs frequently need the most attention.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent.
- Where
- Old Heathfield (TN21)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Old Heathfield
Will you come out to Old Heathfield?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
How do I find out if my home in Old Heathfield is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing aren’t part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them.
How soon will I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, tell us when booking.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
We inspect from wherever is safe: from the ground, windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there’s access. Our Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where it applies. We note anything we couldn’t see.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
Someone needs to let us in if we are looking inside or in the loft. We will talk about access as you book.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
It’s worth having a leaning stack checked. Our survey notes how it looks and the condition of the bricks and joints, and recommend a structural engineer where it may be a structural concern.
Do you need a chimney survey in Old Heathfield?
Many chimneys are no longer used. A stack sealed without ventilation can trap damp. That can lead to damp patches on chimney breasts, even with the roof in good order.
We’re often asked to look at:
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
The streets around a church such as The Parish Church of All Saints are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
What to check before booking
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Will the report include photos?
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
Tips that help
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
If anything in the report is not clear, just ask us. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
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.
The survey, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. You’re welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Around Old Heathfield, 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.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- The stacks are looked at from ground level, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach them.
- You get a written report with photographs and our recommendations.
Before the survey
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Book a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Advice
DIY checks: what’s safe
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Nearby places to Old Heathfield
Other services in Old Heathfield
Surveys for landlords and agents in Old Heathfield
If you own several properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To arrange surveys for several addresses, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the addresses.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Old Heathfield and across East Sussex can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Chimney surveys in Old Heathfield: local notes
Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. Bateman's, about 4.9 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Old Heathfield. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you look after a building such as Heathfield Community College, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Old Heathfield is about 7 miles north of Hailsham, in East Sussex. We survey roofs in Old Heathfield and the rest of East Sussex. Our East Sussex coverage includes Old Heathfield and the places around it. Brighton is in our area too.
Every address in TN21 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We offer chimney surveys to properties on School Hill and Church Street. Other places close to Old Heathfield include Cade Street (1 mile north), Sandy Cross (1 mile west), Heathfield (1 mile west), Broad Oak (1 mile north) and Warbleton (1 mile south). We also work in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (12 miles south), Hastings (14 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (11 miles south-east), Seaford (15 miles south-west), Lewes (13 miles south-west) and Hailsham (7 miles south).
Near you in Old Heathfield
In Old Heathfield, that means homes and buildings near The Star Inn and Parkside Community Primary School. Other landmarks nearby include Hellingly Hospital (5 miles south) and Old Castle (3.6 miles east). The countryside around Old Heathfield includes Selwyns Wood.
Honest limits
It is useful to know what a survey won’t do before you book:
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings