West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Walstead, West Sussex
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Walstead, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Call or email for a price.
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
What a chimney survey looks like in Walstead
In Sussex, older roofs are often handmade clay tile, frequently with tile-hanging on the walls below. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. The wider area around Walstead has a long history of building, with Ockenden Manor about 3.2 miles west. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead.
If you look after a building such as Northlands Wood Primary Academy, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. Homes near green spaces such as Eastern Road Nature Reserve can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Walstead is about 1 mile east of Haywards Heath, in West Sussex. If you are in Walstead, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Crawley.
Surveys in RH16 are booked the same way as anywhere else. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Sage Avenue, Ivy Drive and Juniper Place. Walstead sits on or near the B2111. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Lindfield (1 mile north-west), Horsted Keynes (3 miles north-east), Ardingly (3 miles north), Furner's Green (4 miles east) and Highbrook (4 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Crawley (9 miles north-west), Horsham (12 miles west), Burgess Hill (4 miles south-west), East Grinstead (9 miles north), Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles south-west) and Broadfield (9 miles north-west).
Near you in Walstead
We work in homes and buildings around Oathall Community College, The Snowdrop Inn and Eastern Road Nature Reserve and the streets around them. Walstead’s nearest station is Haywards Heath station, about 1.5 miles west. Nearby you will also find Parish Museum (0.9 miles north-west) and Princess Royal Hospital (1.2 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Ashenground and Bolnore Woods.
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Walstead
If a chimney looks out of line, it is worth getting it checked. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, often after years of flue gases and damp. We record the lean and the condition of the brickwork and pointing. If the stack looks like a structural issue, the report recommends a structural engineer. If you’ve noticed flashings pulling away from the stack and pots or cowls that look unsafe, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
The report doesn’t just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Place
- Walstead (RH16)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What you can safely check yourself
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight.
Leave it or get it looked at?
If you’re buying, find out about the stacks before you exchange. After that, any work is yours to arrange and pay for. Our report gives you facts to raise with the seller or agent. For an older or listed building in a place like Walstead, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
Every price we give includes VAT. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
What you get with us
- Clear package prices, including VAT
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Plain-English reports with photos
See what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
What happens on the day
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. Then the inspection itself takes about 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Older rural homes like those around Walstead 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.
- You let us know how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach them.
- The findings are written up with photos and recommendations and emailed to you.
How to prepare
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
Book a survey
Not sure which survey you need? It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Read more
Do you need a chimney survey in Walstead?
TV aerials, satellite dishes and their brackets are often fixed to chimneys. Their weight and the wind on them can loosen bricks and pointing. Any fixings on the stack are checked and recorded.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Bricks with flaking faces
If you let a flat or house near Haywards Heath station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
What to check before booking
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- What they won’t be able to tell you
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
FAQs for Walstead
Is my home in Walstead listed or in a conservation area?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Can a landlord with a rental near Haywards Heath station book a roof survey?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just ring 07833 053749 or email us with the details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
How can you see the top of the stack?
We inspect from wherever is safe: from the ground, windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there is access. A drone inspection is included in our Premium Survey where applicable. If part of a stack cannot be seen, the report says so.
Will you go up on the roof?
Not unless it’s safe. Most of what we need can be seen from safe viewpoints, the loft and, where applicable, a drone, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
How do I book a survey in Walstead?
Simply ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. A flue inspection, sweep or gas safety check is a separate job. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp, and we’ll say if anything suggests the flue needs checking.
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. Mention any deadline when you book.
Nearby places to Walstead
More services for Walstead
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. Any spalling is noted with photos.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Our packages start from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The size of the roof
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We’ll give you the figure before anything is booked.
Helping us price your survey
These details help when you get in touch:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- What made you get in touch
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.