West Sussex · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Woodmancote, West Sussex
We take a careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Woodmancote, and put it all in a photo-illustrated written report.
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
Signs you need a chimney survey in Woodmancote
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We note what’s visible in the loft space and outside, and recommend a structural engineer where support is in question.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Worn or missing pointing
- A stack that appears to lean
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
Trees in and around Tottington Wood shed leaves that can end up in nearby gutters.
What to check before booking
- Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Their report turnaround times
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
Chimney survey in Woodmancote
A leaning chimney stack is worth having looked at. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, frequently after years of flue gases and damp. We record the lean and the condition of the brickwork and pointing. Where it may be a structural concern, we will recommend a structural engineer. If you’ve noticed pots or cowls that look unsafe and bricks with flaking faces, a survey will tell you what’s going on, whatever the roof.
In a small place like Woodmancote, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
If any part of the chimney stack couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Woodmancote (BN5)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Should I look at the roof myself first?
It’s useful to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney pots and cowls
On redundant flues, we look at how the pots are capped. Capping without ventilation can trap moisture.
Rendered stacks
Cracked render can let water in and trap it behind. Cracks are photographed and noted.
Useful tips for Woodmancote property owners
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked, and moved if they’re working it loose. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.
Towns and villages near Woodmancote
Other services in Woodmancote
How the survey works
When we arrive, we begin with a quick chat about the roof and anything that’s worrying you. After that, we look at everything we can see safely, from ground level, from windows, in the roof space and by drone where it applies. The survey typically takes about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. In a small place like Woodmancote, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You let us know 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.
How to prepare
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
Getting a price
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we will ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Related advice
What a chimney survey looks like in Woodmancote
Many older homes in Sussex have handmade clay tiles and tile-hung walls. Horsham stone slab roofs survive on some old Sussex buildings. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, so check with the council.
Landlords with a home close to Hassocks station may find that a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. The streets around a church like The Parish Church of St Peter are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if yours is one of the older homes nearby, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Woodmancote is about 6 miles south-west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. We carry out chimney surveys in Woodmancote for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings, with a written report and photographs every time. Our West Sussex coverage includes Woodmancote and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Brighton page.
All of BN5 is covered for chimney surveys. If you’re just outside Woodmancote, we cover Blackstone (1 mile north-east), Small Dole (2 miles south-west), Henfield (2 miles north-west), Albourne (2 miles north-east) and High Cross (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Crawley (14 miles north), Horsham (11 miles north), Worthing (9 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (8 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (6 miles north-east) and Littlehampton (15 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Woodmancote
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Tottington Wood, among other places. Woodmancote’s nearest station is Hassocks station, about 4.3 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include The Dene Hospital (4.7 miles north-east) and The Budding Foundation Museum of Gardening (4 miles east). Not far away are Woods Mill and Truleigh Hill.
Woodmancote: your questions answered
Will you come out to Woodmancote?
Yes, Woodmancote is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Is my home in Woodmancote listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
How do I arrange a chimney survey in Woodmancote?
Just phone 07833 053749 or email us. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
Do you inspect the flue?
No. Our survey covers the outside of the stack and the roof around it. The flue should be checked by a sweep, or by a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, so it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not unless it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Woodmancote
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.