Brighton and Hove · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in West Blatchington
Find out the condition of the chimney stack at your property in West Blatchington. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
Chimney survey in West Blatchington
Damp on a chimney breast can have several causes. Water may be getting in at the top through cracked flaunching or an uncapped pot, through the brickwork, or at the flashings. Moisture trapped inside a stack with no ventilation can also cause damp. We check each possibility and record what we find. You then know where to start. We survey flaunching, chimney pots and cowls and lead flashings, and people most often book us about mortar washing out of the joints and gaps in the mortar around the pots.
Around West Blatchington, gardens, hedges and nearby trees can mean leaves and moss end up on roofs and in gutters. Blocked gutters overflow and soak the walls below, and moss holds water against tiles. A report spots that kind of slow problem before it becomes damp inside. Plants growing from a gutter or moss on the tiles are signs worth noting from ground level.
Report times depend on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day.
- Place
- West Blatchington (BN3)
- Region
- Brighton and Hove
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Local roofs in West Blatchington
West Blatchington lies within about 2 miles of the sea, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces. 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. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
Living close to Hove Park is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching. If you let a flat or house near Aldrington station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
West Blatchington is about 1 mile north-east of Brighton and Hove, in Brighton and Hove. West Blatchington gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photographs and a written report. West Blatchington is one of the places in Brighton and Hove we cover for chimney surveys.
We work across the BN3 postcode area for chimney surveys and the streets around it. We cover properties on Frant Road, Nevill Road and Nevill Avenue and the roads around them. With the A2038 close by, West Blatchington is easy for us to reach for chimney surveys. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Brighton and Hove (1 mile south-west), Hove (1 mile south), Aldrington (1 mile south-west), Westdene (1 mile north-east) and Withdean (1 mile east). Further out, we also cover Carlton Hill (3 miles south-east), Hanover (3 miles south-east), Kemptown (3 miles south-east), Whitehawk (4 miles south-east), Moulsecoomb (3 miles east) and Bevendean (3 miles east).
Near you in West Blatchington
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Blatchington Mill School and Sixth Form College, Hove Park and The Nevill pub. The nearest railway station is Aldrington station, about 0.7 miles south of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Churchill Square (2.2 miles south-east) and Clayton Castle (4.6 miles north). Open spaces near West Blatchington include Thundersbarrow Hill and Ladies Mile.
Your questions about chimney surveys in West Blatchington
How do I find out if my home in West Blatchington is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Will you come out to West Blatchington?
Yes. West Blatchington is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
How experienced are you?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Do you need to get into the loft?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there is safe access. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging, as far as the space allows.
What does a roof survey cost?
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, inc. VAT.
When does the report arrive?
Report times are set by the package. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. Mention any deadline when booking.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Nearby places to West Blatchington
What else we do in West Blatchington
What a survey costs
All our prices include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- The shape of the roof and its details
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
What to tell us when you get in touch
We’ll usually ask about:
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The address and postcode of the property
Once you know what you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Roof by roof
Flaunching
Flaunching takes the worst of the weather. The survey checks for cracking and gaps around each pot.
Lead flashings
Where the chimney meets the roof slopes, lead flashings keep water out. We check for lifting, splits and gaps in the joints.
How it works
It is useful to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take between one and two hours for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Being in a smaller place like West Blatchington does not change how the visit works: we look from the ground, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it’s safe. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We check 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.
How to prepare
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Let us know about parking before the day
Book a survey
We confirm the price for your survey before you book, so you know the cost up front. Our price is from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Read more
When you need someone else
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll recommend the right survey. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
DIY checks: what’s safe
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Common roof problems in West Blatchington
Where a chimney meets the roof, lead flashings keep water out. With age they can lift, split or come away from the joints. When flashings fail, water frequently shows up in the loft or on the chimney breast. Lead is also a target for theft.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Worn or missing pointing
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
Take a building like Aldrington CofE Primary School: large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Will the report include photos?
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?