West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Saddlescombe, West Sussex
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Saddlescombe. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
Chimney survey in Saddlescombe
A leaning chimney stack is worth having looked at. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, often after years of flue gases and damp. We record the lean and the condition of the brickwork and pointing. Where it may be a structural concern, we will recommend a structural engineer. Typical surveys look at unused flues sealed without airflow and frost-damaged brickwork on the stack, on brick chimney stacks, flaunching and chimney pots and cowls.
Older buildings in small places like Saddlescombe may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Where
- Saddlescombe (BN45)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
Nearby places to Saddlescombe
What else we do in Saddlescombe
What a chimney survey looks like in Saddlescombe
Saddlescombe lies within about 4 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Metal fixings and flashings corrode faster in salt air, while gales work at loose ridges, slates and tiles, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. About 3.3 miles south lies Portslade Manor, a reminder of how long the area around Saddlescombe has been built on. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
The streets around a church such as The Church of the Holy Trinity are often among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. For landlords with property near Hassocks station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Saddlescombe is about 4 miles north of Brighton and Hove, in West Sussex. If you’re in Saddlescombe, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex.
Surveys in BN45 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you are just outside Saddlescombe, we cover Pyecombe (1 mile north-east), Waterhall (2 miles south-east), Westdene (2 miles south-east), Patcham (3 miles south-east) and West Blatchington (3 miles south). Larger places within reach include Crawley (15 miles north), Horsham (13 miles north-west), Worthing (10 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (9 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (6 miles north-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (5 miles south-west).
Around Saddlescombe
We work in homes and buildings around Waterhall and Royal Oak pub, among other places. Saddlescombe’s nearest station is Hassocks station, about 3.2 miles north-east. Other landmarks nearby include Montefiore Hospital (4.3 miles south-east) and Clayton Castle (2.5 miles north-east). Not far away are Wolstonbury Hill and Ladies Mile.
How it works
We’ll ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes about one to two hours for most houses, and longer for a large or complex roof. Older rural homes like those around Saddlescombe 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.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Getting ready for the survey
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Arrange a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
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Landlords, agents and block managers in Saddlescombe
With a portfolio of properties, surveys can be booked for more than one address. To discuss a number of properties, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the addresses.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. We survey seven days a week, which helps when tenants work during the week.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney breasts and the loft
Stains on timbers or brickwork around the stack can point to a leak. We record what we see with photographs.
Rendered stacks
A rendered stack can mask problems in the bricks below. We look for cracks, hollow areas and staining.
When to book a survey in Saddlescombe
Flaunching is the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the top. Cracked flaunching lets water in, and each winter makes it worse. In time, the pots can become loose.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- A stack that appears to lean
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
Trees in and around Waterhall shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters, and blocked gutters overflow and soak walls.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- What exactly goes into their report
- Their insurance cover
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
What this survey cannot tell you
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
- Whether the flue is safe to use
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Saddlescombe
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
Common questions in Saddlescombe
Is the coastal weather around Saddlescombe hard on roofs?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there is more wind, and more salt in the air. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch, and Saddlescombe is within about 4 miles of the coast.
I let a flat near Hassocks station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, that is a common request. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
How long is the visit?
Expect it to take an hour or two at most homes, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. The written report follows by email, on the timescale of your package.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. Shared stacks are common on terraced and semi-detached houses. We survey what we can see safely, and note anything that seems to involve next door.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. The report includes photos of what we found, so you can see exactly what each finding refers to.