East Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in St Helen's, East Sussex
Chimney surveys in St Helen's from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- A chimney out of line
How a chimney survey works in St Helen's
We inspect chimneys from wherever they can safely be seen: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there is access. With our Premium Survey, a drone inspection is included where it applies. If we cannot see part of the stack, the report makes that clear. Every defect we find is photographed and described in plain words. We survey brick chimney stacks, chimney pots and cowls and flaunching, and common reasons people get in touch are disused chimneys trapping moisture and damp on a chimney breast inside.
In a smaller place like St Helen's, homes range from older cottages to bungalows and newer houses. Older roofs can have slate, clay tiles or other traditional coverings, while many later ones have concrete tiles. On older homes, chimney stacks, valleys and gutters are usually where the work is, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. Nails and battens under older coverings often give out before the slates or tiles themselves.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters, each with a short note and a photo. You will see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- St Helen's (TN34, TN37)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in St Helen's
Can a landlord with a rental near Ore station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. You can call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you need, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Do you cover smaller places like St Helen's?
Yes. St Helen's is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
What happens next?
The report comes by email, and what you do next is up to you: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.
Does the report include photos?
Yes, every report has them. Pictures sit next to the findings they show, so you can see what we mean.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
A leaning stack should be looked at. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so whoever owns or manages the building needs to agree access. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
Roof by roof
Flaunching
The sloping mortar around the pots is called flaunching. Once it cracks, water can get straight into the brickwork.
Brick stacks
Frost can damage bricks that have soaked up water, making the faces flake away. Any spalling is noted with photos.
How the survey works
Safety comes first on every visit. We inspect whatever is safely visible, and if part of the roof can’t be seen, the report says so. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. For a survey in St Helen's, we agree the time, the access and parking before the day. 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.
- We check every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Getting ready for the survey
- Tell us where we can park nearby
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
How to book
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Related advice
Surveys for landlords and agents in St Helen's
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed in advance. We survey seven days a week, which can make access easier.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Also near St Helen's
Also in St Helen's
St Helen's homes and their roofs
St Helen's is within about 2 miles of the coast, and being near the sea means more wind and salt than a roof inland would face. Near the sea, metal fixings wear faster and loose pieces on a roof are more likely to lift, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. If your home is older, it’s worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area.
Landlords with a home close to Ore station may find that a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Ark Blacklands Primary Academy, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
St Helen's is about 1 mile north-east of Hastings, in East Sussex. We provide chimney surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in St Helen's and the surrounding area. St Helen's is one of the places in East Sussex we cover for chimney surveys. Our Maidstone page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: TN34 and TN37. We cover properties on Park Avenue, Keppel Road and Down's Road. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Blacklands (1 mile south), Hastings (1 mile south-west), Silverhill (1 mile south-west), Belmont (1 mile south-east) and Hollington (1 mile west). Further out, we also cover Eastbourne (14 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (5 miles west), Hailsham (14 miles west), Polegate (15 miles west), Old Town (15 miles south-west) and Heathfield (15 miles north-west).
What’s near St Helen's
Around St Helen's, our work takes us to homes and buildings near William Parker Sports College, University School and The Duke pub. The nearest railway station is Ore station, roughly 0.8 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Priory Meadow Shopping Centre (1.2 miles south) and Hastings Old Town Hall Museum (1.3 miles south-east). Open spaces near St Helen's include Church Wood and Robsack Wood and Senlac Hill.
Tips from our surveys
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Some pointers:
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare.
Get small mortar repairs done while they’re small. It’s far simpler than rebuilding a stack later.
What this survey cannot tell you
Before booking, it is worth knowing what a survey will not do:
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
Do you need a chimney survey in St Helen's?
Lots of homes have redundant stacks. A stack sealed without ventilation can trap damp. That can lead to damp patches on chimney breasts, even with the roof in good order.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- A stack that appears to lean
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near Priory Meadow Shopping Centre, a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Whether VAT is added on top
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs