West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Rock
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Rock, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
About our chimney survey in Rock
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We inspect the parts we can see safely and the parts the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it, so you can talk to them. Everything is written up with photos and our recommendations. If you’ve noticed cracked or missing flaunching and mortar washing out of the joints, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on chimney pots and cowls, chimney breasts and brick chimney stacks alike.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. 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.
You receive the findings by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Place
- Rock (RH20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we look for on each type of roof
Flaunching
Sitting at the very top, flaunching is fully exposed. The survey checks for cracking and gaps around each pot.
Chimney pots and cowls
Pots sit in the flaunching on top of the stack, and cowls or caps sit on the pots. The survey looks for cracked, loose or missing pots and cowls.
What a chimney survey does not cover
It helps to know what a survey will not do before you book:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
Should I look at the roof myself first?
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
How the survey works
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, take photos as we go and make notes for the report. Most visits take about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. In a small place like Rock, access is usually the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We look at every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
How to prepare
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Keep pets in another room
How to book
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
For landlords and managing agents
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
What happens if roof problems are left?
If a stack seems to lean, don’t leave it. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you can decide what to do next. Older and listed buildings around Rock may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Rock
- Plain-English reports with photos
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Visits on any day of the week
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
See our cost guide and our case studies.
Also in Rock
Rock questions
Will you come out to Rock?
Yes. Rock is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Do you cover Rock?
Yes, Rock is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Rock as anywhere else, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years, and 98% of clients are satisfied.
What will the report tell me?
Written findings with photos, covering the condition of the chimney stack, the defects we found and what we recommend. The Standard Survey adds moisture detection and a structural check, and the Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable and structural analysis.
What do you check on a chimney?
Every part of the stack we can see from safe positions: from the pots and flaunching down to the flashings. Leaning, unused stacks and damp on chimney breasts are recorded too.
How long will you be at the property?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof; most visits take an hour or two at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. The report is sent afterwards by email.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Tell us about it when you book and we’ll plan the survey around it.
What a chimney survey looks like in Rock
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. With Parham House about 3.9 miles west, Rock sits in an area with a long building history. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Take a building like St Mary's CofE Primary School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. If you own one of the older houses in the streets near The Parish Church of St Mary, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Rock is about 6 miles north of Worthing, in West Sussex. Rock is one of many places we visit across West Sussex, for homes and businesses alike. Our West Sussex coverage includes Rock. Brighton is in our area too.
All of RH20 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Old London Road, London Road and Lamorna Close or a nearby road, we can survey it. Other places close to Rock include Washington (1 mile south), Heath Common (1 mile north-west), Sullington (1 mile west), Warminghurst (2 miles north) and Storrington (2 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Horsham (11 miles north), Worthing (6 miles south), Bognor Regis (15 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (15 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (12 miles east) and Littlehampton (9 miles south-west).
Around Rock
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Rydon Community College and The Frankland Arms Public House, among other places. Well-known places in the area include The Storrington And District Museum (1.9 miles west). The countryside around Rock includes Chanctonbury Hill.