West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Rackham
Independent chimney surveys in Rackham. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Flaunching that has broken away
Chimney survey in Rackham
Redundant chimneys are common, particularly where fires have been replaced by central heating. A disused stack still needs looking after. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. If you’ve noticed mortar washing out of the joints and flaunching that has broken away, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on chimney pots and cowls, chimney breasts and flaunching alike.
In a small place like Rackham, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photo where possible, with the urgent items made clear.
- Location
- Rackham (RH20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Your questions about chimney surveys in Rackham
Can a landlord with a rental near Amberley station book a roof survey?
Yes, that’s a common request. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Rackham?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where applicable and safe. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). It’s included in the Drone Roof Survey and, where applicable, the Premium Survey.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain does not normally stop a survey. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions are not right we’ll arrange another day with you.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
The survey covers the pots and cowls, the flaunching, the pointing, the bricks and the flashings. Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. Everything is written up with photos.
Is Rackham in your area?
Yes. We carry out chimney surveys in Rackham.
What’s in the survey report?
Written findings with photos, explaining the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our recommendations, with the most urgent first where relevant. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
Places near Rackham
What else we do in Rackham
Surveys for landlords and agents in Rackham
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, and they’re priced for the size.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: we need access agreed with the building owner or managing agent. Tell us about it when you book and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
How the survey works
There is not much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, like stains, drips or loose pieces, and we will take it from there. A typical survey takes roughly 1–2 hours for a house, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Older rural homes like those around Rackham can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
How to prepare
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Let us know about parking near the property
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Booking a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we will ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Advice
Different roofs, different checks
Flaunching
Sitting at the very top, flaunching is fully exposed. The survey checks for cracking and gaps around each pot.
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. We record any we can see.
Useful tips for Rackham property owners
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. It shows what we found and where, as far as we could see.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. It is far simpler than rebuilding a stack later.
Leave it or get it looked at?
If a stack seems to lean, do not leave it. Our survey records it and says when a structural engineer should look at it, so you can decide what to do next. Older and listed buildings around Rackham may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and tell us about the roof. We will confirm the figure before booking.
Why book us in Rackham
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Rackham
Older houses across Sussex frequently have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Parham House, about 0.7 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Rackham. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
Trees in and around Parham Park shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Peter, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Rackham is about 7 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We carry out chimney surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Rackham and the surrounding area. Rackham is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex where we work for chimney surveys. We also survey roofs in Brighton.
We work across RH20 for chimney surveys and the streets around it. Other places close to Rackham include Cross Gate (1 mile west), Amberley (1 mile west), Coldwaltham (2 miles north-west), Bury (2 miles west) and Hardham (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Horsham (13 miles north-east), Worthing (8 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (12 miles south-west), Chichester (13 miles south-west), Littlehampton (7 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (12 miles south-east).
Near you in Rackham
Around Rackham, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Parham Park and the streets around them. The closest station to Rackham is Amberley station, about 1.9 miles south-west of the centre. A little further out are Arundel and District Hospital (4.8 miles south-west) and Amberley Museum (1.8 miles south-west). Not far away are Bignor Hill and Amberley Wildbrooks RSPB Reserve.
When to book a survey in Rackham
The flaunching on top of a stack holds the pots in place and sheds water. Once it cracks, water gets in and frost makes the cracks bigger. Loose pots can follow.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Bricks with flaking faces
If you own a rental within reach of Amberley station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Their report turnaround times
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos