East Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Polegate, East Sussex
Chimney surveys across Polegate, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
What we do, step by step
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes an hour or two at most homes, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Homes around Polegate often have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Mention any side of the property we can’t get to. The loft, where there’s safe access, completes the picture.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- 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
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Jot down any questions you want answered
Booking a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or email us. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Advice
About our chimney survey in Polegate
A chimney survey is about the outside of the stack and the roof around it. It isn’t a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. If you use a fire or a gas appliance, the flue should be checked by a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer as appropriate. We’ll tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. If you’ve noticed worn or missing pointing and flashings pulling away from the stack, we can find out what’s behind it.
Around Polegate, older cottages sit alongside bungalows and newer houses. Older roofs can have slate, clay tiles or other traditional coverings, while many later ones have concrete tiles. On older homes, chimney stacks, valleys and gutters are normally where the work is, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. The fixings under an older roof frequently fail before good slates or tiles do.
After the visit, you get a written report with photos, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- Polegate (BN26)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Chimney surveys around Polegate
Polegate is within about 4 miles of the coast, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. 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.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Polegate Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. Historic houses such as Michelham Priory, about 3.2 miles north-west, show how far back building around Polegate goes. On a period home nearby, the survey separates sound original work from tired later repairs.
Polegate is about 3 miles south of Hailsham, in East Sussex. Anywhere in Polegate, we can carry out chimney surveys at your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Across East Sussex, we cover Polegate and the places around it. There is also a page for Brighton.
All of BN26 is within our area for chimney surveys. You will find streets such as Station Road, High Street and Church Road, and we cover them all. Polegate sits on or near the A27 and A2270. We also cover Wannock (1 mile south-west), Lower Willingdon (1 mile south), Willingdon (1 mile south), Filching (2 miles south-west) and Folkington (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Eastbourne (3 miles south-east), Hastings (14 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (10 miles east), Seaford (7 miles south-west), Lewes (11 miles west) and Hailsham (3 miles north).
Around Polegate
We work in homes and buildings around Horse & Groom pub and Willingdon Community School. Polegate has its own railway station: Polegate station. A little further out are Burlough Castle (3.4 miles west) and Eastbourne District General Hospital (2.5 miles south). Open spaces near Polegate include Combe Hill.
Prices for chimney surveys in Polegate
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The roof’s overall size
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What we need to know
You do not need to know any roofing terms. Just tell us:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- What’s prompted the survey
- When you need the report by
To book a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We’ll confirm the price before booking.
Different roofs, different checks
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. Any spalling is noted with photos.
Chimney breasts and the loft
If a chimney breast has been removed below, we note what we can see of the support above. Confirming the support is a job for a structural engineer.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Polegate
Is my home in Polegate listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Polegate?
Often, yes. Within about 4 miles of the sea, as Polegate is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
What does the report include?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, backed by photos. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too, so you know exactly what was covered.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Where it is applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It is included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where it applies, the Premium Survey.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
Have it checked rather than leaving it. Leaning often comes from mortar breaking down unevenly. The survey records what we can see, and a structural engineer can assess whether it needs work.
What happens after the survey?
We email you the written report with photographs and recommendations. You can use it to talk to a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent, whichever applies.
Do I need to be at home?
Someone needs to let us in if we’re looking inside or in the loft. We’ll talk about access when booking.
Do you need a chimney survey in Polegate?
Flaunching is the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the top. Cracked flaunching lets water in, and each winter makes it worse. Loose pots can follow.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Mortar washing out of the joints
For an older house near a landmark such as St John's Church of England Church, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Questions to ask before you book
- What insurance they carry
- Whether the price includes VAT
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
Also near Polegate
What else we do in Polegate
DIY checks: what’s safe
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
What happens if roof problems are left?
For a buyer, the best time to learn about a chimney is before exchange. After that, any work is yours to arrange and pay for. A report gives you something specific to put to the seller. Homes in smaller places like Polegate can face more weather, so a loose ridge or verge soon lets rain in. Wind gets under it and lifts more.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. The Standard Survey starts from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400. We confirm the price for your survey before you book.
Why book us in Polegate
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Drone and thermal imaging surveys available
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition