East Sussex · London and the South East
South Malling Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in South Malling. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Worn or missing pointing
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
Chimney survey in South Malling: what you get
Redundant chimneys are common, particularly where fires have been replaced by central heating. Even when it isn’t used, a stack has to stay weathertight. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. You get photos of each stack and our recommendations. Common reasons to book are staining on walls around the chimney and spalled or crumbling bricks, on shared and party-wall stacks, brick chimney stacks and lead flashings.
In a smaller place like South Malling, some roofs stand more exposed to wind and rain than in a built-up town. Ridge tiles, verges, chimney stacks and flashings take the worst of it. Checking those edges shows whether anything has begun to work loose. A loose ridge tile or slate gives the wind something to catch, and others soon follow.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photo. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Location
- South Malling (BN7, BN8)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
For landlords and managing agents
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
What else we do in South Malling
South Malling homes and their roofs
In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. With Anne of Cleves House about 0.8 miles south-west, South Malling sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you let a flat or house near Lewes station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. If you look after a building such as South Malling CofE Primary and Nursery School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. If you live near a park like Railway Land, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
South Malling is about 1 mile north-east of Lewes, in East Sussex. South Malling is part of the area we cover and the surrounding area across London and South East England. We cover towns and villages across East Sussex. For surveys nearby, see our Brighton page.
All of BN7 and BN8 is within our area for chimney surveys. Streets in the area include Lee Road, New Road and Mill Road, all of which we cover. You’ll find South Malling on the A26 and A2029, which makes it simple to reach. Other places close to South Malling include Lewes (1 mile south-west), Cliffe (1 mile south-east), Southover (1 mile south), Hamsey (1 mile north) and Offham (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (14 miles south-east), Seaford (8 miles south-east), Hailsham (11 miles east), Crowborough (14 miles north-east), Uckfield (7 miles north-east) and Newhaven (6 miles south).
Local landmarks in South Malling
We work in homes and buildings around Elephant and Castle pub, Priory School and Railway Land. For rail, the closest station is Lewes station, roughly 0.7 miles south. A little further out are Lewes Victoria Hospital (0.8 miles south-west) and Lewes Castle (0.5 miles south-west). For a walk, there’s Malling Down and Cliffe Hill.
What we look for on each type of roof
Flaunching
The sloping mortar around the pots is called flaunching. Cracks in it let water into the stack.
Lead flashings
Flashings can lift in wind or pull out of their mortar joints. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.
South Malling: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in South Malling is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Can a landlord with a rental near Lewes station book a roof survey?
Of course. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and they go into the written report alongside our recommendations.
What should I do with a chimney I don’t use?
An unused stack still needs to stay weathertight and ventilated. If it is capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. We check how it is capped and its condition, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Damp on a chimney breast normally means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. The survey looks at the stack, the flashings and the capping, and record what we find.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Light rain does not typically stop a survey. High wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so if conditions are not right we will arrange another day with you.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
How it works
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take about 1–2 hours at a typical home, and longer for a large or complex roof. A visit to South Malling is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed ahead of time. Weekday and weekend visits are both possible. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- 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.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets in another room
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Book a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
Read more
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we look at the roof.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
What happens if roof problems are left?
A loose pot or brick can fall from height. A survey picks them out so they can be made safe by a suitable contractor. On a bungalow or cottage around South Malling, the roof sits close to the rooms below, so a small leak can mark a ceiling within a few storms. Finding the cause first saves a second job inside.
All our prices include VAT. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in South Malling
- 98% customer satisfaction
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Clear package prices, including VAT
- Weekday and weekend surveys
Practical tips
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
Where another specialist is needed, such as a structural engineer or sweep, we explain why. That helps you brief them.
Check fixings on the stack are sound, and moved if they’re working it loose. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.