East Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Twelve Oaks, East Sussex
An experienced roof surveyor for chimney surveys in Twelve Oaks. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Bricks with flaking faces
How a chimney survey works in Twelve Oaks
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We look at whatever is safely visible and what the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it and you can then discuss it with them. Everything is written up with photos and what we recommend. Typical surveys look at eroded joints in the brickwork and frost-damaged brickwork on the stack, across brick chimney stacks, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney pots and cowls.
Older buildings in small places like Twelve Oaks may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
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.
- Where
- Twelve Oaks (TN32)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from the ground
A lot can be seen from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
Chimney surveys in Twelve Oaks: local notes
Bateman's, about 2.4 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Twelve Oaks. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead. Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
If you live in an older home near The Parish Church of St Thomas A Becket, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. If you own a rental within reach of Robertsbridge station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Twelve Oaks is about 8 miles north of Bexhill-on-Sea, in East Sussex. We cover Twelve Oaks and the rest of East Sussex, as part of our work across London and the South East. Twelve Oaks is one of the places in East Sussex where we work. You can also see our page for Maidstone.
Chimney surveys in TN32 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Hollingrove (1 mile north-east), Brightling (1 mile north), Oxley's Green (1 mile north), Netherfield (2 miles south-east) and Penhurst (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (13 miles south-west), Hastings (9 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (8 miles south), Hailsham (9 miles south-west), Crowborough (12 miles north-west) and St Leonards (10 miles south-east).
Near you in Twelve Oaks
For rail, the closest station is Robertsbridge station, about 3.4 miles north-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Old Castle (2.3 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Senlac Hill.
Practical tips
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Check your stacks from the ground after strong winds
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer or builder. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo, so it’s easy to follow.
Look at your chimneys from ground level now and then, particularly after strong winds. With binoculars, you can often see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.
Prices for chimney surveys in Twelve Oaks
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- The roof’s overall size
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
Every price we give includes VAT. Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the exact price before booking.
Getting in touch
You do not need to know any roofing terms. Just let us know:
- The property’s address and postcode
- Dates you are working to, like exchange
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email, let us know about the property and we’ll recommend the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
How it works
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, such as stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. In a hamlet or village like Twelve Oaks, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, 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.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We check every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Getting ready for the survey
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Buyers: confirm access with the estate agent or seller
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
Book a survey
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Read more
Landlords, agents and block managers in Twelve Oaks
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant, which helps with budgets and planning.
Common questions in Twelve Oaks
Will you come out to Twelve Oaks?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs 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.
I let a flat near Robertsbridge station. Can you check the roof?
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’ll talk through which survey suits.
What does the report include?
It sets out what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, with photographs throughout. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too, so you know exactly what was covered.
How fast do I get the report?
Each package has its own report time. Basic: within 48 hours. Standard: 24 to 48 hours. Premium: the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, tell us as you book.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
There are a few common causes: water getting in at the top, through the brickwork or at the flashings, or moisture trapped in a stack with no ventilation. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
We check the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings. Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. You get a written report with photos.
Places near Twelve Oaks
More services for Twelve Oaks
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What we check
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching