East Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Sandy Cross, East Sussex
Chimney surveys in Sandy Cross, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photographs.
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; 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. You are welcome to ask questions while we’re there. In a smaller place like Sandy Cross, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: drone flights and thermal imaging need the right conditions, while a look from ground level and the loft can go ahead in most weather.
- 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 roof space.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Keep pets in another room
Booking a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Advice
How a chimney survey works in Sandy Cross
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is often shared with next door. We check what can be seen safely and what the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it and you can then discuss it with them. Everything is written up with photos and what we recommend. If you’ve noticed frost-damaged brickwork on the stack and a stack that appears to lean, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Around Sandy Cross, older cottages sit alongside bungalows and newer houses. Coverings range from slate and clay tiles on older homes to concrete tiles on many later ones. On older homes, chimney stacks, valleys and gutters are usually where the work is. Nails and battens under older coverings often give out before the slates or tiles themselves.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Sandy Cross (TN21)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Why get it checked now?
Damp in a chimney breast typically gets worse while the cause is left. It can stain walls and damage plaster. Finding the cause means the right work can be planned. Homes in smaller places like Sandy Cross can face more weather, so a loose ridge or verge soon lets rain in. Each storm lifts it a little further.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You will know the figure before booking.
Why book us in Sandy Cross
- Over 20 years’ experience
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Packages from £150, inc. VAT
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
For landlords and managing agents
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf. Access is agreed with the tenant in advance.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work.
Sandy Cross questions
Is Sandy Cross within the area you cover?
Yes. Sandy Cross is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
Is Sandy Cross in the area you cover?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
How much is a survey?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, confirmed before anything is booked.
Do you use drones?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where applicable.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you will need a RICS survey as well.
What should I do with a chimney I don’t use?
It depends on its condition and your plans. The survey shows its condition and how it’s been capped. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need consent.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning, with the building owner or managing agent. Let us know about it as you book and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Sandy Cross homes and their roofs
If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. 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, and the county’s older buildings include oast houses and Wealden hall houses. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
If you look after a building such as Parkside Community Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Sandy Cross is about 7 miles east of Uckfield, in East Sussex. We cover Sandy Cross and the rest of East Sussex, as part of our work across London and the South East. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. For surveys nearby, see our Brighton page.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: TN21. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Park Road, Ghyll Road and Green Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover the places around Sandy Cross: Heathfield (1 mile north), Old Heathfield (1 mile east), Maynard's Green (1 mile south), Cade Street (1 mile north-east) and Broad Oak (2 miles north-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (12 miles south), Hastings (15 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (12 miles south-east), Seaford (14 miles south-west), Lewes (12 miles south-west) and Hailsham (7 miles south).
Local landmarks in Sandy Cross
In Sandy Cross, that means homes and buildings near Runt-in-Tun pub and Heathfield Community College and the streets around them. Well-known places in the area include Sussex Farm Museum (1.9 miles south) and Hellingly Hospital (5 miles south). For a walk, there is Selwyns Wood.
What you can safely check yourself
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
When to book a survey in Sandy Cross
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.
Common reasons to book include:
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
For an older house near a landmark such as St Richards Church, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Before booking anyone
- Will the report include photos?
- When you will get the report
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
How we price chimney surveys
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
Our price is from £150, including VAT. The final price depends on how big and how high the roof is, access and the package you choose.
Getting in touch
Some details help us point you to the right survey and price. When you get in touch, it’s useful to mention:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or email us.