West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in West Stoke
Know where you stand with the chimney stack before you spend money on it. We carry out chimney surveys in West Stoke.
- A stack that appears to lean
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
How a chimney survey works in West Stoke
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It is not a flue inspection, a sweep or a gas safety check. If you use a fire or a gas appliance, the flue should be checked by a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer as appropriate. If something we see points to the flue, we’ll say so. We are frequently asked to look into worn or missing pointing and a stack that appears to lean, across lead flashings, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney pots and cowls.
Village roofs frequently 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. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
Where we cannot see part of the chimney stack, the report says so. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Location
- West Stoke (PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Questions from West Stoke
Does being near the coast affect roofs in West Stoke?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch, and West Stoke is within about 5 miles of the coast.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Fishbourne station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and some details, including who will give access on the day.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, and it isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
What do I do with the report?
The report arrives by email, with photographs and clear recommendations. With Standard there’s a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes, every report has them. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Do you need to go on the roof to check the chimney?
Each stack is viewed from the safest viewpoints: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the roof space. Our Premium Survey includes a drone inspection where it applies. We note anything we couldn’t see.
Towns and villages near West Stoke
What else we do in West Stoke
Different roofs, different checks
Brick stacks
Older brick stacks frequently have soft lime mortar. We note where repairs should match the original mortar.
Flaunching
Sitting at the very top, flaunching is fully exposed. We look for cracks, gaps around the pots and missing pieces.
What a chimney survey looks like in West Stoke
The coast is about 5 miles or less from West Stoke, 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, while driving rain finds any gap. Older houses across Sussex often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging on their upper walls. A few old Sussex buildings still carry heavy Horsham stone slabs. Whatever the covering, it’s often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
Historic houses such as West Dean House, about 3.2 miles north-east, show how far back building around West Stoke goes. Older roofs nearby often mix original materials with later repairs, and the survey shows where each one is. If you own a rental within reach of Fishbourne station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
West Stoke is about 3 miles north-west of Chichester, in West Sussex. West Stoke is one of many places we visit across West Sussex. We cover towns and villages across West Sussex. Portsmouth is in our area too.
Here we cover the PO18 postcode area for chimney surveys. We cover properties on Downs Road and Lye Lane. We also cover East Ashling (1 mile south-west), West Ashling (1 mile south-west), Funtington (2 miles west), Broadbridge (2 miles south-west) and Fishbourne (2 miles south). Further out, we also cover Bognor Regis (8 miles south-east), Chichester (3 miles south-east), Selsey (10 miles south), Littlehampton (13 miles east), Emsworth (5 miles west) and Rustington (14 miles east).
What’s near West Stoke
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Horse And Groom Public House and the streets around them. West Stoke’s nearest station is Fishbourne station, about 2.2 miles south of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Chichester Castle (3 miles south-east) and Chichester Centre (2.8 miles south-east). Open spaces near West Stoke include Stoke Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
When you need someone else
A survey is a close look at the chimney stack, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we check
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
Why act early in West Stoke
A loose pot or brick can fall from height. A survey picks them out so they can be made safe by a suitable contractor. For an older or listed building in a place like West Stoke, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so leaving a defect until it’s urgent leaves less time to plan.
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in West Stoke
- Every finding written up with photos
- Surveys on any day of the week
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Drones and thermal imaging where it applies
Read how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
Do you need a chimney survey in West Stoke?
TV aerials, satellite dishes and their brackets are often fixed to chimneys. Their weight and the wind on them can loosen bricks and pointing. We check fixings on the stack as part of the survey.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Bishop Luffa School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Before you book anyone
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- What exactly goes into their report
- What insurance they carry
- What experience they bring
Can I check my roof myself?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
A lot can be seen from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please don’t climb up for a closer look.
The survey, step by step
The aim of the visit is simple: to look at the chimney stack as closely as is safe and record what we find. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit typically takes roughly 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Somewhere as small as West Stoke, access is frequently the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We check the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
Booking a survey
To get a price for chimney surveys in West Stoke, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Some details about the property and the roof help us give you an accurate price.