West Sussex · London and the South East
Rotherbridge Chimney Survey
We take a careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Rotherbridge, and put it all in a report with photographs.
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Signs that a stack is leaning
About our chimney survey in Rotherbridge
A damp patch on a chimney breast doesn’t always come from the same place. Water may be getting in at the top through cracked flaunching or an uncapped pot, through the brickwork, or at the flashings. Moisture trapped inside a stack with no ventilation can also cause damp. We look at each possibility and record what we find. That points the work in the right direction. We survey lead flashings, chimney pots and cowls and shared and party-wall stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are lifted or split lead flashings and loose, cracked or missing pots.
Somewhere as small as Rotherbridge, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
If any part of the chimney stack couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Location
- Rotherbridge (GU28)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the chimney stack as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photos go into the written report. It usually takes an hour or two for a house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Somewhere as small as Rotherbridge, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We check every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
How to prepare
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Keep pets in another room
Booking a survey
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
Your questions about chimney surveys in Rotherbridge
I let a flat near Pulborough station. Can you check the roof?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Rotherbridge?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
Don’t ignore 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.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we’ll recommend one.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. Many houses share stacks with a neighbour. We survey what we can see safely, and note anything that seems to involve next door.
How soon will I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. Mention any deadline when booking.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain is usually fine; heavy rain and wind are different. Strong wind or heavy rain can make access unsafe and ground a drone, and we’d agree another day.
Places near Rotherbridge
Other services in Rotherbridge
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Roof by roof
Flaunching
Sitting at the very top, flaunching is fully exposed. We look for cracks, gaps around the pots and missing pieces.
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Rotherbridge
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, and the report can go to both. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Freeholders and residents’ companies use a roof report to plan and budget, with the most urgent items set out first.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Rotherbridge
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. 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. With Petworth House about 1.2 miles north-east, Rotherbridge sits in an area with a long building history. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
If you look after a building such as Petworth Cof E Primary School, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale. If you live in an older home near The Parish Church of All Hallows, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Rotherbridge is about 8 miles south-west of Billingshurst, in West Sussex. We provide chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Rotherbridge and the surrounding area. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. For surveys nearby, see our Guildford page.
Here we cover the GU28 postcode area for chimney surveys. We cover properties on Kilsham Lane and Rotherbridge Lane. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Petworth (1 mile north-east), Haslingbourne (1 mile east), Tillington (1 mile north), Upperton (2 miles north) and Hampers Green (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Horsham (15 miles north-east), Worthing (14 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (13 miles south), Chichester (11 miles south-west), Littlehampton (12 miles south) and Rustington (12 miles south-east).
What’s near Rotherbridge
The closest station to Rotherbridge is Pulborough station, about 4.8 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Lodsworth Castle (2.1 miles west) and Coultershaw Heritage Site (0.5 miles south-east). For a walk, there is Bignor Hill and Graffham Common.
Signs you need a chimney survey in Rotherbridge
A stack takes the weather from every direction. Frost opens up cracks in the mortar, and rain gets into worn bricks and joints. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Worn or missing pointing
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- A stack that appears to lean
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
Landlords with a home close to Pulborough station may find that a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
When you need someone else
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching