East Sussex · London and the South East
South Chailey Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for South Chailey, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
Do you need a chimney survey in South Chailey?
TV aerials, satellite dishes and their brackets are frequently fixed to chimneys. The extra load in wind can work bricks and joints loose. We check fixings on the stack as part of the survey.
Common reasons to book include:
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
Landlords with a home close to Plumpton station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Questions to ask before you book
- Will the report include photos?
- What follow-up you get after the report
- When you will get the report
- What insurance they carry
Chimney survey in South Chailey: what you get
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. Even when it isn’t used, a stack has to stay weathertight. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. If you’ve noticed a stack that appears to lean and unused flues sealed without airflow, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like South Chailey, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are frequently old. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it is usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Location
- South Chailey (BN8)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
What a chimney survey looks like in South Chailey
The wider area around South Chailey has a long history of building, with Anne of Cleves House about 5 miles south. 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. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs, and oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of East Sussex’s older buildings. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Anyone responsible for a site like Chailey School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
South Chailey is about 4 miles north of Lewes, in East Sussex. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in South Chailey can all book chimney surveys. South Chailey is one of the places in East Sussex where we work. There’s also a page for Brighton.
Surveys in BN8 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include Mill Brooks, Whitegates Close and Brickyard Lane, and we cover them all. Other places close to South Chailey include South Street (1 mile north), Chiltington (1 mile south), Chailey (2 miles north-east), East Chiltington (2 miles south-west) and Plumpton Green (2 miles west). Further out, we also cover Seaford (13 miles south-east), Lewes (4 miles south), Hailsham (13 miles south-east), Crowborough (11 miles north-east), Uckfield (6 miles east) and Newhaven (11 miles south).
Landmarks near South Chailey
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Swan Public House and the streets around them. The closest station to South Chailey is Plumpton station, about 1.7 miles south-west. Other landmarks nearby include Lewes Castle (4.8 miles south) and Lewes Victoria Hospital (4.5 miles south). The countryside around South Chailey includes Blackcap and Malling Down.
How it works
We do not take risks to get a closer look. We inspect what can safely be seen, and anything we cannot see is noted in the report. Most visits take about 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Rural addresses near South Chailey can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- You let us know how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Every part we can see is checked: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
Before we arrive
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Tell us about parking before the day
Booking a survey
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
South Chailey questions
How do I find out if my home in South Chailey is listed?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Is South Chailey within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
Do I need to be at home?
Not always. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
How long is the visit?
Most surveys take roughly 1–2 hours at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. The report follows by email.
How many surveys have you done?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, over more than 20 years, with 98% customer satisfaction.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but we don’t provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. The report will say if you need an engineer.
Places near South Chailey
More services for South Chailey
Leave it or get it looked at?
A leaning stack should be looked at sooner rather than later. Our survey records it and says when a structural engineer should look at it, so you know where you stand. In a place like South Chailey, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. It’s worth including them in a survey before a winter does the damage.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT, and we will tell you which fits.
Why book us in South Chailey
- A report with photographs
- 5,000+ surveys completed
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
- Surveys seven days a week
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
What a survey costs
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. The main factors are:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, from £400 inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you want to find out.
Getting in touch
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from ground level or a window
- What made you get in touch
- The property’s address and postcode
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Tips from our surveys
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
If anything in the report is not clear, just ask us. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. Early signs are easier to trace.