West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Waterbeach, West Sussex
Chimney surveys in Waterbeach, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
About our chimney survey in Waterbeach
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. Even when it is not used, a stack has to stay weathertight. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. 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. If you’ve noticed signs that a stack is leaning and pots or cowls that look unsafe, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on chimney breasts, shared and party-wall stacks and flaunching alike.
Somewhere as small as Waterbeach, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are frequently old. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
Findings are set out part by part, from the coverings down to the gutters. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Location
- Waterbeach (PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Waterbeach
Goodwood House, about 0.5 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Waterbeach. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, 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. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Boxgrove CofE Primary School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. If you live in an older home near The Priory Church of St Mary and St Blaize, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Waterbeach is about 3 miles north-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. We visit Waterbeach as part of our work across West Sussex, for houses, flats and commercial buildings. Waterbeach is one of the places in West Sussex we cover. Portsmouth is in our area too.
We work across PO18 for chimney surveys. We also cover the places around Waterbeach: Strettington (1 mile south), Westerton (1 mile south-west), Halnaker (1 mile east), Boxgrove (1 mile south-east) and Maudlin (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Worthing (15 miles east), Bognor Regis (6 miles south), Chichester (3 miles south-west), Selsey (9 miles south), Littlehampton (10 miles south-east) and Emsworth (9 miles west).
Near you in Waterbeach
For rail, the closest station is Chichester station, roughly 3.2 miles south-west. Other landmarks nearby include Chichester Castle (2.6 miles south-west) and The Chichester City Museum (2.7 miles south-west). Not far away are Levin Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
Nearby places to Waterbeach
More services for Waterbeach
What affects the price in Waterbeach
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Whether it’s a home or a commercial building
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- How big the roof is
- Which survey package you book
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Getting in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The address and postcode of the property
- What kind of property and roof it is
You can call us seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
What happens on the day
There is not much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll take it from there. A typical survey takes roughly 1–2 hours at most homes, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Older roofs in small places like Waterbeach can have low, tight loft spaces, so it helps to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it’s safe.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- 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.
Before the survey
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
Booking a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Common roof problems in Waterbeach
A stack takes the weather from every direction. Frost opens up cracks in the mortar, and rain gets into worn bricks and joints. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- A chimney out of line
For landlords with property near Chichester station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Before booking anyone
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
Landlord and commercial surveys in Waterbeach
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord, and the report can go to both. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, from shops and offices to industrial units. Larger roofs take longer.
Tips from our surveys
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. The photos show the problem and which side it’s on from the viewpoints we used.
Look at your chimneys from ground level now and then, particularly after strong winds. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.
FAQs for Waterbeach
Can a landlord with a rental near Chichester station book a roof survey?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or email us with the details.
Will you come out to Waterbeach?
Yes, Waterbeach is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
How can you see the top of the stack?
We use safe viewpoints rather than climbing onto the stack. Where it applies, our Premium Survey adds a drone inspection for a closer view. Any area we couldn’t view is noted.
My chimney looks like it’s 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.
Do you look in the loft space?
If there’s a loft and safe access to it, yes. From inside, the underside of the roof often shows damp, staining or daylight that can’t be seen from outside.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
There are a few common causes: cracked flaunching, worn pointing, failed flashings, uncapped pots, or damp trapped in an unventilated stack. We look at each one and note the most likely cause.
Can you survey at the weekend?
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 when you book.
How the survey changes by roof type
Lead flashings
Where the chimney meets the roof slopes, lead flashings keep water out. We check for lifting, splits and gaps in the joints.
Flaunching
We frequently find flaunching that has cracked or broken away. It’s usually a modest repair when it’s caught early.