East Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Wannock
Independent chimney surveys in Wannock. We have completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- A stack that appears to lean
- Bricks with flaking faces
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney breasts and the loft
Inside, chimney breasts can show damp when water gets into the stack. We check the breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach.
Chimney pots and cowls
Damaged pots are a safety concern as well as a leak risk. We record their condition with photographs.
About our chimney survey in Wannock
Redundant chimneys are common, especially where fires have been replaced by central heating. Even when it is not used, a stack has to stay weathertight. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. You get photos of each stack and our recommendations. We survey chimney pots and cowls, shared and party-wall stacks and brick chimney stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are unused flues sealed without airflow and mortar washing out of the joints.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, 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 written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Place
- Wannock (BN26)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Chimney surveys around Wannock
Wannock is within about 4 miles of the coast, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof. Handmade clay tiles and tile-hung upper walls are typical of older Sussex houses. 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 look after a building such as Willingdon Community School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. For landlords with property near Polegate station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. Alfriston Clergy House lies about 3.4 miles west, so building around Wannock goes back a long way. If your home is one of the older ones, the roof may have been repaired many times, and the survey records how each part is holding up.
Wannock is about 3 miles north-west of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. Roofs in Wannock get the same thorough look as anywhere else in East Sussex. Our area takes in places right across East Sussex, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Brighton page.
Here we cover the BN26 postcode area for chimney surveys. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Wannock Road, Lancing Way and Mortimer Gardens and the roads around them. We also cover Lower Willingdon (1 mile south-east), Filching (1 mile south-west), Polegate (1 mile north-east), Folkington (1 mile west) and Willingdon (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Eastbourne (3 miles south-east), Hastings (15 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (10 miles east), Seaford (6 miles south-west), Lewes (11 miles north-west) and Hailsham (4 miles north).
Landmarks near Wannock
In Wannock, that means homes and buildings near Horse & Groom pub and Willingdon Primary School, among other places. The closest station to Wannock is Polegate station, roughly 0.8 miles north-east. Other landmarks nearby include Burlough Castle (2.8 miles west) and Filching Manor And Motor Museum (0.8 miles south-west). The countryside around Wannock includes Combe Hill.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Wannock
Does being near the coast affect roofs in Wannock?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, while strong wind lifts anything already loose.
How do I find out if my home in Wannock is listed?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days as you book.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
A leaning stack should be looked at. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and recommend a structural engineer where it may be a structural concern.
Will I get photos?
Yes. Photographs are part of every report.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it is safe. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. We use safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it does not include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
Practical tips
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
What else we do in Wannock
Checking the roof from ground level
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Do not go up yourself.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey.
What this survey can’t tell you
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
What happens on the day
Expect us to ask a few questions before we start, such as when any problem began and what work has been done before. Then the inspection itself takes about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Around Wannock, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it is useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it is safe.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Book a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or send us an email when you are ready.
Read more
Landlord and commercial surveys in Wannock
Letting agents and landlords in Wannock book surveys as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the chimney stack, with photographs, useful for planning maintenance.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, from shops and offices to industrial units. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.