East Sussex · London and the South East
Upper Dicker Chimney Survey
We take a careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Upper Dicker, with photographs and a written report.
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Worn or missing pointing
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
How it works
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. The inspection then takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Somewhere like Upper Dicker needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- 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.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Preparing for the visit
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Leave side gates unlocked
How to book
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
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About our chimney survey in Upper Dicker
A chimney stands up above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. In time, flaunching cracks, mortar washes out and flashings come loose. Water then gets into the stack and can show as damp on a chimney breast or a stain in the loft. A survey finds these problems and records them with photographs. If you’ve noticed gaps in the mortar around the pots and lifted or split lead flashings, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like Upper Dicker, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it is usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
What you get is a clear record of the chimney stack on the day we saw it. It’s useful straight away, and a good reference for later, for instance when you want to check whether anything has changed.
- Location
- Upper Dicker (BN27)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Common roof problems in Upper Dicker
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We record what we can see in the loft and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
Look out for signs like these:
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
If you let a flat or house near Berwick (Sussex) station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
What to check before booking
- What experience they bring
- What happens after the report arrives
- What insurance they carry
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
Upper Dicker questions
Do you cover smaller places like Upper Dicker?
Yes. Upper Dicker is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Berwick (Sussex) station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
A leaning stack should be looked at. Our survey notes how it looks and the condition of the bricks and joints, and recommend a structural engineer where it may be a structural concern.
What happens next?
You will get the report by email, with photos and clear recommendations. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation, and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
How experienced are you?
We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs.
What does a roof survey cost?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, and it is agreed before booking.
How do I arrange a chimney survey in Upper Dicker?
To book, phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We’ll confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Upper Dicker homes and their roofs
In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs, and oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of East Sussex’s older buildings. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. With Michelham Priory about 0.6 miles south-east, Upper Dicker sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Holy Trinity, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. Anyone responsible for a site like Bede's Prep School will know that large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Upper Dicker is about 2 miles west of Hailsham, in East Sussex. Wherever you are in Upper Dicker, we can come and survey your property. Our East Sussex coverage includes Upper Dicker and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Brighton page.
All of BN27 is covered for chimney surveys. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Camberlot Road, Old Forge Close and Coldharbour Road and the roads around them. We also cover Lower Dicker (1 mile north-east), Tile Hurst (1 mile east), Lower Horsebridge (2 miles north-east), Nash Street (2 miles north) and Upper Horsebridge (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (7 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (12 miles east), Seaford (8 miles south-west), Lewes (9 miles west), Crowborough (13 miles north) and St Leonards (15 miles east).
Landmarks near Upper Dicker
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Plough Inn, Park Mead Primary School and Hailsham Community College, among other places. Upper Dicker’s nearest station is Berwick (Sussex) station, about 2.5 miles south-west. Other landmarks nearby include Agricultural Museum (3.6 miles south) and Hellingly Hospital Railway (2.8 miles north-east). For a walk, there is Firle Beacon.
What a survey costs
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Roof area
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. The price is confirmed before booking.
What we need to know
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- The property’s address and postcode
To get a price for chimney surveys in Upper Dicker, phone 07833 053749 or email us. A few details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Leave it or get it looked at?
Chimneys are easy to forget because you rarely see the top of them. Problems often go unnoticed until damp appears inside. A survey gives you a clear picture before that happens. For an older or listed building in a place like Upper Dicker, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Why book with us
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- PI and public liability insurance
- 98% customer satisfaction
Practical tips
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
Questions about the findings are always welcome. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
Nearby places to Upper Dicker
Also in Upper Dicker
Honest limits
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Keep these in mind:
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
- Flue inspections or sweeping
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Upper Dicker
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings