West Sussex · London and the South East
Pyecombe Chimney Survey
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? You can book a chimney survey in Pyecombe and across West Sussex, with plain-English findings.
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
What happens on the day
You do not need to do much on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will get on with the inspection. The survey itself takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. For a village or hamlet like Pyecombe, the journey is planned ahead of time: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect whatever is safely visible, inside and out.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Preparing for the visit
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
Booking a survey
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Advice
Chimney survey in Pyecombe: what you get
A chimney survey looks at the stack and everything around it: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and the flashings at the roof line. Inside, we check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft where it is safe to reach. The findings come in a written report with photos and recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. If you’re worried about damp on a chimney breast inside and pots or cowls that look unsafe, we can find out what’s behind it.
In a small place like Pyecombe, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
The report doesn’t just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Place
- Pyecombe (BN45)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
Before booking, it’s worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Flue inspections or sweeping
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll suggest the right survey before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Pyecombe
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
Nearby places to Pyecombe
Also in Pyecombe
Chimney surveys in Pyecombe: local notes
Pyecombe lies within about 5 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, while driving rain finds any gap. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
If you own a rental within reach of Hassocks station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. With Preston Manor & Gardens about 4 miles south, the area around Pyecombe has a long history. Older homes in the area may have roofs that need matching materials when work is done.
Pyecombe is about 4 miles south of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. We cover Pyecombe and the rest of West Sussex. Pyecombe is one of the places in West Sussex where we work for chimney surveys.
Chimney surveys in BN45 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We offer chimney surveys to properties on London Road, School Lane and Church Hill and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Saddlescombe (1 mile south-west), Waterhall (2 miles south), Patcham (3 miles south), Westdene (3 miles south) and Hollingbury (3 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Crawley (15 miles north), Horsham (13 miles north-west), Worthing (12 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (7 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (4 miles north) and Shoreham-by-Sea (6 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Pyecombe
The nearest railway station is Hassocks station, roughly 1.9 miles north-east. Well-known places in the area include Clayton Castle (1 mile north-east) and The Budding Foundation Museum of Gardening (1.7 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Wolstonbury Hill and Ladies Mile.
Questions from Pyecombe
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Pyecombe, take more of a battering?
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.
Is Pyecombe within the area you cover?
Yes, Pyecombe is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
What’s in the survey report?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, and ends with what we recommend. The most urgent items are made clear.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. The report will say if you need an engineer.
How long is the visit?
It typically takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. You’ll then get the report by email, on the timescale of your package.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Signs you need a chimney survey in Pyecombe
Chimney stacks stand above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Frost works into cracks in the flaunching and pointing, and rain soaks into worn brickwork. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
Typical things we are asked to look at include:
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
The streets around a church like Church of the Transfiguration are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Before you book anyone
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- What experience they bring
Roof by roof
Flaunching
Sitting at the very top, flaunching is fully exposed. The survey checks for cracking and gaps around each pot.
Chimney breasts and the loft
In the loft, staining around the stack frequently shows where water is getting in. We record what we see with photographs.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Pyecombe
Loose pots and bricks on a stack are a safety concern. A survey picks them out so they can be made safe by a suitable contractor. Older and listed buildings around Pyecombe may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Basic starts from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, VAT included.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Pyecombe
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
- Photos and a written report every time
- Two decades and more of roof surveys
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and our case studies.