West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in West Itchenor
Independent chimney surveys in West Itchenor. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
Useful tips for West Itchenor property owners
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner, before and after a survey:
- Check unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
You get the report by email and can pass it to whoever does the work. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo, so it’s easy to follow.
Look at your chimneys from the ground now and then, particularly after strong winds. With binoculars, you can often see cracked flaunching or lifted lead.
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in West Itchenor
Chimney stacks take more weather than almost any other part of a house. Over the years, the flaunching cracks, the pointing wears and flashings lift. That lets water into the brickwork, which can show up as damp on a chimney breast or in the loft space. We record what we find with photos and recommendations. If you’ve noticed cracked or missing flaunching and a stack that appears to lean, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a village or hamlet like West Itchenor, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it’s normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
After the visit, you get a report with photos, sent by email. It explains the condition of the chimney stack, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Place
- West Itchenor (PO20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Can I check my roof myself?
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, which helps when we check the roof.
Places near West Itchenor
Also in West Itchenor
What happens on the day
Every visit follows the same pattern: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from every safe vantage point, photograph what we find and record our findings for the written report. It typically 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 West Itchenor, access is typically the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
How to prepare
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Find any records of previous roof work
Book a survey
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know the cost up front. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Chimney surveys around West Itchenor
The coast is about 1 mile or less from West Itchenor, so there is more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Near the sea, metal fixings wear faster and loose pieces on a roof are more likely to lift, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
For landlords with property near Bosham station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. If you live in an older home near St Nicholas' Church, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
West Itchenor is about 5 miles south-west of Chichester, in West Sussex. Wherever you are in West Itchenor, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Our area takes in places right across West Sussex, large and small. Our Portsmouth page covers surveys nearby.
Chimney surveys in PO20 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Local streets include The Street, Waterstone Close and Spinney Lane, all of which we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Bosham Hoe (1 mile north-east), Bosham (2 miles north), Chidham (2 miles north), Broadbridge (3 miles north) and Apuldram (3 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Bognor Regis (8 miles east), Chichester (5 miles north-east), Selsey (6 miles south-east), Littlehampton (15 miles east), Emsworth (5 miles north-west) and Portfield (5 miles north-east).
Landmarks near West Itchenor
The closest station to West Itchenor is Bosham station, roughly 2.9 miles north of the centre. A little further out are St Richard's Hospital (5 miles north-east) and Chichester Castle (4.7 miles north-east). Open spaces near West Itchenor include Pilsey Island.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Damp in a chimney breast normally gets worse while the cause is left. It can stain walls and damage plaster. Knowing whether it’s the flaunching, flashings, brickwork or ventilation means the right fix can be planned. Around West Itchenor, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, including VAT, and we can help you choose.
Why us?
- An independent look at the roof
- Visits on any day of the week
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- Over 20 years’ experience
Roof by roof
Brick stacks
Older brick stacks frequently have soft lime mortar. We note where repairs should match the original mortar.
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.
West Itchenor: your questions answered
I let a flat near Bosham station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Do roofs near the sea, like those around West Itchenor, take more of a battering?
Often, yes. Within about 1 mile of the sea, as West Itchenor is, metal fixings wear faster and gales find any loose ridge or slate.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes, plenty. Pictures sit next to the findings they show.
Do you use drones?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
Do you inspect the flue?
No. Our survey covers the outside of the stack and the roof around it. For the flue, you’ll need a sweep or, for gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer.
What does the report include?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, backed by photos. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too.
When does the report arrive?
That depends on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. The report is emailed to you.
When you need someone else
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Conditions inside walls
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in West Itchenor
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks