West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in West Kingston
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in West Kingston. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
What we look for on each type of roof
Rendered stacks
We cannot see the bricks behind render without it being opened up, so the report explains what we could and couldn’t assess.
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. We record any we can see.
About our chimney survey in West Kingston
We inspect chimneys from wherever they can safely be seen: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the loft space where it is safe. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where applicable. If we can’t see part of the stack, the report makes that clear. Every defect we find is photographed and described in plain words. We survey chimney breasts, brick chimney stacks and shared and party-wall stacks, and people most often book us about staining on walls around the chimney and mortar washing out of the joints.
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. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are frequently where weather gets in first.
How fast the report arrives depends on the package: the Basic Survey within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey on the same day.
- Location
- West Kingston (BN16)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the price in West Kingston
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- How many separate roofs there are, like extensions, dormers and garages
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Roof area
To find out what your survey will cost, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and a few details. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Getting in touch
A few details help us recommend the right survey and price. When you contact us, tell us:
- What’s prompted the survey
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- What kind of property and roof it is
We survey roofs on any day of the week. To find a date that works for you, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Honest limits
We only report what can be seen safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- A structural engineer’s assessment
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we look at
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
What happens on the day
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. The visit normally takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Rural addresses near West Kingston can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- 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.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
How to prepare
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Getting a price
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and give us some details about the property and we will explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Related advice
Before and after the survey
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Make sure fixings on the stack are secure
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
If the report recommends a structural engineer, a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer, it will say why. That helps you brief them.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. Early signs are easier to trace.
Places near West Kingston
Also in West Kingston
Common roof problems in West Kingston
Stacks that were used for open fires for many years can weaken from the inside. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which is one reason stacks start to lean.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Worn or missing pointing
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
For landlords with property near Angmering station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
What to check before booking
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Their report turnaround times
Chimney surveys around West Kingston
West Kingston is within about 1 mile 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, and driving rain gets into whatever gap is left. The wider area around West Kingston has a long history of building, with Ecclesden Manor about 1.7 miles north. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead.
Anyone responsible for a site like East Preston Infant School will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale. For an older house near a landmark such as St Andrew's Church, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
West Kingston is about 3 miles east of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. We provide chimney surveys for homes and businesses in West Kingston and nearby. West Kingston is one of the places in West Sussex where we work for chimney surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Brighton page.
Chimney surveys in BN16 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. You will find streets such as Coastal Road and Golden Acre, all of which we cover. We also cover the places around West Kingston: Angmering-on-Sea (1 mile west), Kingston Gorse (1 mile east), East Preston (1 mile north-west), Ferring (1 mile east) and Hangleton (1 mile north-east). We also work in nearby towns like Worthing (3 miles north-east), Bognor Regis (10 miles west), Chichester (14 miles west), Selsey (15 miles west), Littlehampton (3 miles west) and Shoreham-by-Sea (9 miles east).
Around West Kingston
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Angmering School and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Angmering station, roughly 1.2 miles north-west. A little further out are Rustington Museum (1.6 miles west) and Old Castle (3.6 miles north-east). The countryside around West Kingston includes Highdown Hill.
Questions from West Kingston
How do I find out if my home in West Kingston is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Will you come out to West Kingston?
Yes, West Kingston is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
How long does the survey take?
Expect it to take about 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. The written report follows by email.
Will you walk on the 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 applicable.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
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.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
It can come from several places: water getting in at the top, through the brickwork or at the flashings, or moisture trapped in a stack with no ventilation. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause.