East Sussex · London and the South East
Wood's Corner Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Wood's Corner and the rest of East Sussex. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Bricks with flaking faces
Chimney survey in Wood's Corner
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We look at what can be seen safely and what the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it and you can then discuss it with them. Everything is written up with photos and our recommendations. We survey lead flashings, chimney breasts and chimney pots and cowls, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are mortar washing out of the joints and spalled or crumbling bricks.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are frequently where weather gets in first.
After the visit, you get a report with photos, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the chimney stack, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Location
- Wood's Corner (TN21)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
What we do, step by step
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the loft space where it can be reached. All told, expect about 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Rural addresses near Wood's Corner can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We look at 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
Book a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or email us.
Read more
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. That helps stop damp building up inside.
What we look for on each type of roof
Rendered stacks
Cracked render can let water in and trap it behind. We record any cracking and where it is.
Lead flashings
Flashings can lift in wind or pull out of their mortar joints. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.
Wood's Corner questions
Is Wood's Corner within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Is my home in Wood's Corner listed or in a conservation area?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
Have it checked rather than leaving it. Leaning often comes from mortar breaking down unevenly. We record its condition with photographs, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it is stable.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes, every report has them. Pictures sit next to the findings they show, so you can see what we mean.
Will you check the chimney is safe to use with a fire?
No. A flue inspection, sweep or gas safety check is a separate job. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
How can you see the top of the stack?
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. If part of a stack can’t be seen, the report says so.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Wood's Corner
Bateman's, about 2.9 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Wood's Corner. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like 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. Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Some old buildings in Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs, and oast houses and timber-framed Wealden hall houses are part of East Sussex’s older buildings. Whatever the covering, it is frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
If you own a rental within reach of Stonegate station, the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. For site and facilities teams at buildings such as Dallington Church of England Primary School, 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 like The Parish Church of St Giles, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Wood's Corner is about 8 miles north-east of Hailsham, in East Sussex. We survey roofs in Wood's Corner and the surrounding area across London and South East England. Our East Sussex coverage includes Wood's Corner. Our Brighton page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: TN21. Close by, we survey roofs in Dallington (1 mile west), Rushlake Green (2 miles west), Brownbread Street (3 miles south), Punnett's Town (3 miles west) and Ashburnham (3 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Eastbourne (12 miles south), Hastings (10 miles south-east), Bexhill-on-Sea (8 miles south-east), Hailsham (8 miles south-west), Crowborough (11 miles north-west) and St Leonards (10 miles south-east).
Around Wood's Corner
Wood's Corner’s nearest station is Stonegate station, roughly 5 miles north of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Hellingly Hospital (6 miles south-west) and Old Castle (0.7 miles west).
Towns and villages near Wood's Corner
Other services in Wood's Corner
Honest limits
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Bear these in mind:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
What we look at
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
What affects the price in Wood's Corner
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Roof area
- Which survey package you book
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so they’re priced to match. You will know the figure before booking.
Getting in touch
Here’s what helps us most when you get in touch:
- The reason for the survey, like buying, a leak or storm damage
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so there’s time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.