West Sussex · London and the South East
Thakeham Chimney Survey
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? You can book a chimney survey in Thakeham and across West Sussex, with plain-English findings.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
What we can’t see
Our findings are based on what we can see safely on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
- A structural engineer’s assessment
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will recommend the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
How a chimney survey works in Thakeham
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It isn’t a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. If you use a fire or a gas appliance, the flue should be checked by a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer as appropriate. We will tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. If you’ve noticed eroded joints in the brickwork and disused chimneys trapping moisture, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Thakeham, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are frequently old. We report on what can safely be seen, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Place
- Thakeham (RH20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- 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
Before and after the survey
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They apply to most roofs:
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
Questions about the findings are always welcome. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one.
Check redundant flues are capped with ventilation. That helps stop damp building up inside.
Can I check my roof myself?
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That’s where a survey comes in.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Also near Thakeham
What else we do in Thakeham
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney pots and cowls
Damaged pots are a safety concern as well as a leak risk. We photograph each pot and note any damage.
Flaunching
Flaunching takes the worst of the weather. We look for cracks, gaps around the pots and missing pieces.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Thakeham
Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. Historic houses such as Parham House, about 3.6 miles south-west, show how far back building in the area around Thakeham goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters.
The streets around a church like The Parish Church of St Mary are often among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. For landlords with property near Pulborough station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Rydon Community College, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Thakeham is about 8 miles north of Worthing, in West Sussex. Whether the building in Thakeham is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, the roof can be surveyed. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex. There’s also a page for Brighton.
We survey roofs across the RH20 postcode area for chimney surveys and the streets around it. Whether your property is on The Street, Bramble Lane and Cray's Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. If you are just outside Thakeham, we cover Abingworth (1 mile south-west), Warminghurst (1 mile south-east), Goose Green (1 mile north-east), West Chiltington (1 mile north-west) and Heath Common (1 mile south). Further out, we also cover Crawley (15 miles north-east), Horsham (9 miles north-east), Worthing (8 miles south), Haywards Heath (15 miles east), Burgess Hill (13 miles east) and Littlehampton (10 miles south-west).
What’s near Thakeham
For rail, the closest station is Pulborough station, roughly 4.1 miles west. A little further out are The Storrington And District Museum (2.2 miles south-west). For a walk, there is Knepp Wildland and Chanctonbury Hill.
Thakeham: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Thakeham is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Will you come out to Thakeham?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it’s safe. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs cannot always be walked on. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where it applies let us see the rest.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
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 records the likely cause.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
How can you see the top of the stack?
Each stack is viewed from the safest viewpoints: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the loft space. Our Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where it applies. If part of a stack cannot be seen, the report says so.
Do you look in the loft space?
Normally, if there is one and it can be reached safely. The roof space can show things the outside cannot, such as damp timbers, staining or daylight.
What we do, step by step
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Older rural homes like those around Thakeham 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, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- 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’s access.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
Booking a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Related advice
Prices for chimney surveys in Thakeham
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- The roof’s overall size
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
A Basic Survey starts from £150, inc. VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. You’ll know the price for your survey before booking.
What we need to know
We will usually ask about:
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Where the property is, with the postcode
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or send us an email when you’re ready.