East Sussex · London and the South East
Upper Wellingham Chimney Survey
We carry out chimney surveys in Upper Wellingham and the rest of East Sussex. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
Chimney survey in Upper Wellingham: what you get
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It is not a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. For the flue itself, you will need a sweep or, for gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer. We will tell you if we see anything that suggests they should take a look. We survey chimney breasts, brick chimney stacks and shared and party-wall stacks, and people most frequently book us about damp patches on chimney breasts and bricks with flaking faces.
In a small place like Upper Wellingham, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. 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.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible, and recommendations are put in order of urgency where relevant.
- Location
- Upper Wellingham (BN8)
- Wider area
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Local roofs in Upper Wellingham
About 2.2 miles south-east lies Glyndebourne, a reminder of how long the area around Upper Wellingham has been built on. On older houses around here, roofs frequently 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. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs, and the county’s older buildings include oast houses and Wealden hall houses. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
For site and facilities teams at buildings like Ringmer Community College and Sixth Form, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale. For an older house near a landmark like The Parish Church of St Mary, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Upper Wellingham is about 2 miles north-east of Lewes, in East Sussex. From houses to flats and shops in Upper Wellingham, we can survey the roof. Upper Wellingham is one of the towns and villages in East Sussex we cover for chimney surveys. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in BN8 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We also cover the places around Upper Wellingham: Barcombe Mills (1 mile north), Norlington (1 mile south-east), Barcombe (1 mile north-west), Barcombe Cross (2 miles north-west) and Broyle Side (2 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Eastbourne (14 miles south-east), Seaford (9 miles south), Hailsham (10 miles east), Crowborough (12 miles north-east), Uckfield (5 miles north-east) and Newhaven (8 miles south).
Around Upper Wellingham
We work in homes and buildings around The Cock Inn. The nearest railway station is Cooksbridge station, about 2.1 miles west. Well-known places in the area include Lewes Castle (2.6 miles south-west) and Lewes Victoria Hospital (2.8 miles south-west). The countryside around Upper Wellingham includes Malling Down and Cliffe Hill.
Upper Wellingham: your questions answered
Is my home in Upper Wellingham listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Will you come out to Upper Wellingham?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. 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.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that in advance, but anything inside needs someone there to give access.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
It is worth having a leaning stack checked. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
What do I do with the report?
The report comes by email, and what you do next is up to you: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
Nearby places to Upper Wellingham
More services for Upper Wellingham
What we do, step by step
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. The survey usually takes about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. In a small place like Upper Wellingham, access is typically the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before we arrive
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Booking a survey
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or email us, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Read more
Leave it or get it looked at?
A loose pot or brick can fall from height. A survey picks them out so they can be made safe by a suitable contractor. For an older or listed building in a place like Upper Wellingham, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it is urgent leaves less time to plan.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Upper Wellingham
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- A report with photos
- Prices that include VAT
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
When you need someone else
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
How we price chimney surveys
Our packages start from £150, including VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Which survey package you book
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT.
Booking your survey
Before you get in touch, it’s useful to have:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
If you’re buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
What we’re asked to look at in Upper Wellingham
Aerials and dishes are often 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:
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- A stack that appears to lean
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
For landlords with property near Cooksbridge station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
What to check before booking
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What the survey will not cover
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
Useful tips for Upper Wellingham property owners
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. The photos show the problem and which side it is on, as far as we could see.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. Early signs are easier to trace.