Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Alkerton, Oxfordshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching across Alkerton, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- A chimney out of line
Surveys for landlords and agents in Alkerton
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work with less disruption.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
About our chimney survey in Alkerton
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. On older stacks, we often find cracked flaunching, loose flashings and worn pointing. You get photographs and findings you can take back to the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. Typical surveys look at disused chimneys trapping moisture and gaps where the stack meets the roof, across shared and party-wall stacks, brick chimney stacks and flaunching.
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 roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
What you get is a clear record of the chimney stack on the day we saw it. It is useful straight away, and a good reference for later.
- Location
- Alkerton (OX15)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey changes by roof type
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. We record any we can see.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Damp patches on chimney breasts often point to a problem above. We check them and at the stack in the loft where there’s safe access.
Tips that help
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
If the report recommends a structural engineer, a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer, it will say why. That helps you brief them.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. Early signs are easier to trace.
Places near Alkerton
What else we do in Alkerton
Local roofs in Alkerton
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Older houses in the South East frequently have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. Upton House, about 1.9 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Alkerton. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years.
Take a building like Shenington Church of England Primary School: large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Alkerton is about 5 miles west of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. Surveys in Alkerton work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Our Oxfordshire coverage includes Alkerton and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Oxford page.
Surveys in OX15 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you’re just outside Alkerton, we cover Shenington (1 mile west), Balscote (1 mile south-east), Shutford (2 miles south), Epwell (2 miles south-west) and Swalcliffe (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Banbury (5 miles east), Chipping Norton (11 miles south-west), Neithrop (4 miles east), Grimsbury (6 miles east), Ruscote (4 miles east) and Bloxham (5 miles south-east).
Around Alkerton
In Alkerton, that means homes and buildings near The Bell Inn. Nearby you’ll also find Hanwell Castle (3.7 miles east) and W. O. Bentley Memorial Foundation (1.8 miles east). Open spaces near Alkerton include Edge Hill and Woodford Bottom and Lamb's Pool.
What happens on the day
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. The survey normally takes between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Somewhere as small as Alkerton, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. 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 look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before we arrive
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- If it isn’t your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Arrange a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details.
Advice
When you need someone else
A survey is a close look at the chimney stack, but it can’t do everything. The main limits are:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Conditions inside walls
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
Your questions about chimney surveys in Alkerton
Will you come out to Alkerton?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Alkerton?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain does not usually stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions are not right we’ll arrange another day with you.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. A flue inspection, sweep or gas safety check is a separate job. We check the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside, and we’ll say if anything suggests the flue needs checking.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
How long does the survey take?
It usually takes about one to two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. The report follows by email.
What we’re asked to look at in Alkerton
Flashings seal the gap where a stack passes through the roof. They can lift in wind, crack with age or pull out of the mortar joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- A chimney out of line
- Worn or missing pointing
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
If you live in an older home near Church of St Michael, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Their report turnaround times
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Their insurance cover
- What happens after the report arrives