West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Patching, West Sussex
We take a careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Patching, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Patching
The coast is about 4 miles or less from Patching, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Near the sea, metal fixings wear faster and loose pieces on a roof are more likely to lift, while driving rain finds any gap. Historic houses such as Ecclesden Manor, about 1.5 miles south-west, show how far back building in the area around Patching goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Living close to Clapham Wood is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching. If you look after a building such as Clapham and Patching CofE Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. Take an older house close to The Parish Church of St John the Divine: its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Patching is about 3 miles north-west of Worthing, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in Patching across London and South East England. Patching is one of the places in West Sussex we cover. You can also see our page for Brighton.
All of BN13 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a chimney survey at a property on The Street and Coldharbour Lane or a nearby road, we can help. Other places close to Patching include Clapham (1 mile south-east), Hammerpot (2 miles west), Cote (2 miles east), Angmering (2 miles south-west) and Hangleton (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns like Worthing (3 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (11 miles west), Chichester (14 miles west), Littlehampton (4 miles south-west), Shoreham-by-Sea (8 miles east) and Lancing (6 miles east).
Landmarks near Patching
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Fox pub, The Angmering School and Clapham Wood. Patching’s nearest station is Goring-By-Sea station, roughly 2.3 miles south-east of the centre. A little further out are Museum of Sussex Folklore (3.1 miles south-east) and Old Castle (3.1 miles south-east). Not far away are WWT Arundel and Highdown Hill.
Chimney survey in Patching
A leaning chimney stack is worth having looked at. A stack may lean because the mortar on one side has weakened, which can happen over many years of use. The survey notes how the stack looks, how far it seems to lean and the state of the bricks and joints. Where it may be a structural concern, we will recommend a structural engineer. We’re frequently asked to look into lifted or split lead flashings and frost-damaged brickwork on the stack, on shared and party-wall stacks, chimney breasts and lead flashings.
Some older homes in villages like Patching are listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are frequently matched when work is done.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Where
- Patching (BN13)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
All our prices include VAT. What changes the price is:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The size of the roof
- Building height and the viewpoints available
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you need to know.
Booking your survey
A little information up front helps. It helps to include:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so call 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
What happens on the day
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the loft space if there’s safe access. In total, it takes an hour or two for a house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Older roofs in small places like Patching can have low, tight loft spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
Arrange a survey
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Advice
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare.
Get small mortar repairs done while they’re small. It is far simpler than rebuilding a stack later.
What you can safely check yourself
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
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.
Honest limits
It’s useful to know what a survey won’t do before you book:
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Conditions inside walls
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
Other services in Patching
Patching questions
Is the coastal weather around Patching hard on roofs?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
Do you cover smaller places like Patching?
Yes, Patching is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned beforehand.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
It’s worth having a leaning stack checked. Our survey notes how it looks and the condition of the bricks and joints, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Not unless it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We do not carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
What happens next?
The report arrives by email, with photos and clear recommendations. With Standard there is a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
How quickly is the report sent?
Each package has its own report time. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. If you have a deadline, like an exchange date, tell us when booking.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Patching
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work with less disruption.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Patching and across West Sussex can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.