West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Rowfant
An experienced roof surveyor for chimney surveys in Rowfant. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
Chimney survey in Rowfant: what you get
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. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause. You then know where to start. Common reasons to book are spalled or crumbling bricks and gaps where the stack meets the roof, on shared and party-wall stacks, brick chimney stacks and flaunching.
Some older homes in villages like Rowfant are listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
What you get is a clear record of the chimney stack on the day we saw it. It’s useful right away, and a good reference for later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Where
- Rowfant (RH10)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey can’t tell you
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
What you can safely check yourself
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Different roofs, different checks
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. Caught early, it is frequently a small job.
Brick stacks
Brick stacks rely on sound pointing to keep water out. The survey looks for crumbling bricks and worn or missing mortar.
Other services in Rowfant
What happens on the day
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes about 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Around Rowfant, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- 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.
- 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
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
How to book
Once you know what you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date, weekday or weekend.
Advice
FAQs for Rowfant
How do I find out if my home in Rowfant is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Will you come out to Rowfant?
Yes, Rowfant is covered. We work right across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
My chimney looks like it’s leaning. What should I do?
Don’t ignore it. Leaning often comes from mortar breaking down unevenly. The survey records what we can see, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it’s stable.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
What if it rains on the day?
A survey can typically go ahead in light rain. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we will agree a new date if the weather isn’t suitable.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it is applicable. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Leave it or get it looked at?
If a stack seems to lean, don’t leave it. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you know where you stand. Around Rowfant, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all with VAT included. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why us?
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- 20+ years’ experience
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
Useful tips for Rowfant property owners
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. It shows what we found and where from the viewpoints we used.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Rowfant
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. Gravetye Manor, about 2.7 miles south-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Rowfant. If yours is one of the older homes, 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.
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near County Mall, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies. If you look after a building such as Turners Hill CofE Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. If you own a rental within reach of Three Bridges station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Rowfant is about 4 miles east of Crawley, in West Sussex. We survey roofs in Rowfant and the rest of West Sussex, as part of our work across London and the South East. Across West Sussex, we cover Rowfant.
All of RH10 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Close by, we survey roofs in Copthorne (2 miles north-west), Worth (2 miles west), Pound Hill (2 miles west), Maidenbower (2 miles south-west) and Keeper's Corner (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Crawley (4 miles west), Horsham (10 miles west), Haywards Heath (8 miles south), Burgess Hill (11 miles south), East Grinstead (4 miles east) and Broadfield (5 miles west).
What’s near Rowfant
For rail, the closest station is Three Bridges station, about 2.6 miles west. Well-known places in the area include County Mall (3.6 miles west) and Langley Green Hospital (4 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Hedgecourt Lake.