Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Appleton
Wondering about the chimney stack at a property in Appleton? We carry out chimney surveys in Appleton and across Oxfordshire, with plain-English findings.
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
About our chimney survey in Appleton
If a chimney looks out of line, it is worth getting it checked. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, often after years of flue gases and damp. The survey notes how the stack looks, how far it seems to lean and the state of the bricks and joints. Where it may be a structural concern, we’ll recommend a structural engineer. Common reasons to book are lifted or split lead flashings and unused flues sealed without airflow, across brick chimney stacks, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney breasts.
In a small place like Appleton, 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 roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Location
- Appleton (OX13)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
The visit has one job: 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. It typically takes about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. In a hamlet or village like Appleton, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, 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.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Related advice
Appleton questions
Will you come out to Appleton?
Yes, Appleton is covered. We work right across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Oxford station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the building, including who will give access on the day.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We point out what can be seen, such as sagging or deflection, but we’re not structural engineers and don’t carry out calculations. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
How many surveys have you done?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
My chimney looks like it is leaning. What should I do?
A leaning stack should be looked at. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Tips from our surveys
Small things make a difference, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Our tips:
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
With a shared stack, the report can help when talking to next door. It shows what we found and where from the viewpoints we used.
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.
Prices for chimney surveys in Appleton
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. This is what makes a difference:
- How complicated the roof is, with its valleys, chimneys and parapets
- Height and safe access
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for the job before booking.
Getting in touch
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- When you need the report by
- The address and postcode of the property
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Roof by roof
Chimney breasts and the loft
In the loft, staining around the stack often shows where water is getting in. We record what we see with photographs.
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.
What a chimney survey does not cover
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Appleton
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
Chimney surveys in Appleton: local notes
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Appleton Manor, about 0.1 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Appleton. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Landlords with a home close to Oxford station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. The streets around a church such as Church of St Lawrence are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Appleton is about 4 miles north-west of Abingdon-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Appleton can all book chimney surveys, with a written report and photographs every time. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire, large and small. We also survey roofs in Oxford.
Every address in OX13 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Whites Forge, Town Furlong and Badswell Lane. Other places close to Appleton include Northmoor (2 miles north-west), Henwood (2 miles east), Cumnor (2 miles north-east), Wootton (2 miles east) and Chawley (3 miles north-east). Further out, we also cover Oxford (6 miles north-east), Didcot (9 miles south-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (4 miles south-east), Witney (8 miles north-west), Carterton (11 miles west) and Wantage (9 miles south).
Near you in Appleton
In Appleton, that means homes and buildings near The Plough Inn, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Oxford station, about 5 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include FitzHarris Castle (4.2 miles south-east) and Abingdon Community Hospital (3.8 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Hitchcopse Pit and Cumnor Hill.
Nearby places to Appleton
What else we do in Appleton
Signs you need a chimney survey in Appleton
The flaunching on top of a stack holds the pots in place and sheds water. Once it cracks, water gets in and frost makes the cracks bigger. In time, the pots can become loose.
Problems we come across frequently include:
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- A chimney out of line
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Lifted or split lead flashings
Take a building like Appleton Church of England (A) Primary School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- What exactly goes into their report
- What follow-up you get after the report