East Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Udimore, East Sussex
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Udimore, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Get in touch for a price.
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
How a chimney survey works in Udimore
A chimney survey looks at the stack and everything around it: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and the flashings at the roof line. We also look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. The findings come in a written report with photos and recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. Typical surveys look at unused flues sealed without airflow and loose, cracked or missing pots, on shared and party-wall stacks, flaunching and brick chimney stacks.
In a small place like Udimore, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
If any part of the chimney stack couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Udimore (TN31)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What this survey cannot tell you
It is a careful look at the chimney stack, not the whole story. Its limits include:
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
Checking the roof from ground level
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Useful tips for Udimore property owners
You don’t need to be a roofer to help. Here’s what helps most:
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
Once we have been, the findings are written up with photos. It explains the condition of each part of the stack and any damp inside. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.
Common roof problems in Udimore
Aerials and dishes are frequently fixed to stacks. The extra load in wind can work bricks and joints loose. We check fixings on the stack as part of the survey.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
With Lamb House about 3.4 miles east, the area around Udimore has a long history. On a period home nearby, the survey separates sound original work from tired later repairs.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- How long the report takes to arrive
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
Udimore homes and their roofs
Udimore lies within about 4 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. 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. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings, alongside oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. Whatever the covering, it’s often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
For landlords with property near Winchelsea station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near The Parish Church of St Mary, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Udimore is about 6 miles north-east of Hastings, in East Sussex. We survey roofs in Udimore and the rest of East Sussex, as part of our work across London and South East England. Our East Sussex coverage includes Udimore. We also survey roofs in Maidstone.
Here we cover the TN31 postcode area for chimney surveys. Streets in the area include Udimore Road and Float Lane. If you’re just outside Udimore, we cover Cock Marling (1 mile east), Broadland Row (1 mile west), Broad Street (1 mile south), Icklesham (2 miles south) and Beckley Furnace (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Hastings (6 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (10 miles south-west), St Leonards (7 miles south-west), Hastings Old Town (6 miles south-west), Belmont (6 miles south-west) and Hollington (7 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Udimore
The nearest railway station is Winchelsea station, about 2.1 miles east of the centre. Nearby you will also find Winchelsea Court Hall Museum (2.5 miles south-east) and Conquest Hospital (5.4 miles south-west). Open spaces near Udimore include Flatropers Wood.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as householders. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the chimney stack.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. Recommendations are set out with the most urgent first where relevant.
How it works
The visit typically starts outside and finishes in the loft: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. All told, expect about one to two hours on an ordinary house, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Around Udimore, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Preparing for the visit
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Check pets are kept safely away
How to book
We survey roofs on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Towns and villages near Udimore
Also in Udimore
Common questions in Udimore
Is my home in Udimore listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is Udimore within the area you cover?
Yes, we do. We work right across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
How experienced are you?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
Does the weather affect the survey?
It can, depending on the survey. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
What happens after the survey?
You receive the written report by email, with photographs and recommendations. It’s yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it is applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.