Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Preston, Brighton and Hove
We carry out chimney surveys in Preston and the rest of Brighton and Hove. We survey seven days a week.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Lifted or split lead flashings
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Preston
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It isn’t a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. For the flue itself, you will need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. If something we see points to the flue, we’ll say so. If you are worried about unused flues sealed without airflow and pots or cowls that look unsafe, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on flaunching, brick chimney stacks and chimney breasts alike.
In a smaller place like Preston, homes range from older cottages to bungalows and newer houses. Coverings range from slate and clay tiles on older homes to concrete tiles on many later ones. On older homes, chimney stacks, valleys and gutters are usually where the work is, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. The fixings under an older roof often fail before good slates or tiles do.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Where
- Preston (BN1, BN3, BN88)
- Wider area
- Brighton and Hove
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we are asked to look at in Preston
Chimney stacks stand above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Frost opens up cracks in the mortar, and rain gets into worn bricks and joints. People normally call us when they notice damp or a problem with the stack, or before a purchase.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- A stack that appears to lean
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
Trees in and around Preston Park shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Will the report include photos?
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
Towns and villages near Preston
What else we do in Preston
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About chimney survey
What a chimney survey looks like in Preston
Preston lies within about 2 miles of the sea, and places near the sea get more salt in the air and more wind than inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. Preston Manor & Gardens, about 0.2 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Preston. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Take an older house close to St John the Evangelist's Church: the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. Shop and office owners around Churchill Square may find that a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions.
Preston is about 1 mile north-west of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. Roofs in Preston get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Brighton and Hove. We cover towns and villages across Brighton and Hove.
All of BN1, BN3 and BN88 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 Home Road, Bates Road and Loder Road or anywhere close by, we can help. Preston is on the A23, which makes it simple to reach. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Withdean (1 mile north), Prestonville (1 mile south), Hollingdean (1 mile east), Seven Dials (1 mile south) and West Hill (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Saltdean (6 miles south-east), East Saltdean (6 miles south-east), Roedean (3 miles south-east), Rottingdean (4 miles south-east) and Ovingdean (4 miles south-east).
Around Preston
Typical jobs here are in homes near Preston Park, The Crown and Anchor Inn and Varndean College. There’s a railway station in Preston itself: Preston Park station. Other landmarks nearby include Churchill Square (1.5 miles south) and Brighton Transport Museum (0.5 miles south). For a walk, there is Newmarket Hill and Ladies Mile.
Before and after the survey
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
You get the report by email and can pass it to whoever does the work. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo, so it’s easy to follow.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. That helps stop damp building up inside.
Roof by roof
Chimney breasts and the loft
In the loft, staining around the stack often shows where water is getting in. We record what we see with photographs.
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. Caught early, it’s often a small job.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Preston
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, putting the urgent items at the top.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Preston and across Brighton and Hove can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
When you need someone else
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
The survey, step by step
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit usually takes between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. A visit to Preston is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed beforehand. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Getting ready for the survey
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Arrange a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine, and please don’t climb up for a closer look. To get started, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
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Your questions about chimney surveys in Preston
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Preston, take more of a battering?
Near the coast, roofs face more wind and more salt than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
I let a flat near Preston Park station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
When does the report arrive?
Report times are set by the package. 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 as you book.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
A leaning stack should be looked at. 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.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
It depends on its condition and your plans. The survey shows its condition and how it’s been capped. If you are thinking of removing it, check with the council first in a conservation area or on a listed building.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. Shared stacks are common on terraced and semi-detached houses. We survey what we can see safely, and note anything that seems to involve next door.