Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Ashampstead
We carry out chimney surveys in Ashampstead and the rest of Oxfordshire. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Staining on walls around the chimney
DIY checks: what’s safe
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Chimney survey in Ashampstead
Redundant chimneys are common, especially where fires have been replaced by central heating. A disused stack still needs looking after. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. If you’ve noticed frost-damaged brickwork on the stack and worn or missing pointing, we can find out what’s behind it.
Older buildings in small places like Ashampstead may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are frequently matched when work is done.
We write the report in plain English, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photo where possible.
- Place
- Ashampstead (RG8)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near Ashampstead
What else we do in Ashampstead
Your questions about chimney surveys in Ashampstead
Do you cover smaller places like Ashampstead?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Goring & Streatley station?
Yes, letting agents and landlords book with us as well as owners. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
A leaning stack should be looked at. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and recommend a structural engineer where it may be a structural concern.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 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.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access; we will agree the details when booking.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it doesn’t include calculations. If we see signs that need an engineer’s opinion, we will recommend one.
How do I book a survey in Ashampstead?
Just call 07833 053749 or email us. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
Ashampstead homes and their roofs
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. Historic houses like Basildon Park, about 2.9 miles east, show how far back building in the area around Ashampstead goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you let a flat or house near Goring & Streatley station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. Take an older house close to Church of St Clement: its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Ashampstead is about 7 miles north-east of Thatcham, in Oxfordshire. We carry out chimney surveys in Ashampstead for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Ashampstead is one of the places in Oxfordshire where we work for chimney surveys. We also survey roofs in Reading.
All of RG8 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We cover properties on Chapel Lane, Noakes Hill and Church Lane and the roads around them. Other places close to Ashampstead include Ashampstead Green (1 mile north), Stubbles (1 mile south-east), Burnt Hill (2 miles south), Upper Basildon (2 miles east) and New Town (3 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Didcot (9 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles north), Wantage (12 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (12 miles east), Grove (13 miles north-west) and Benson (10 miles north).
Near you in Ashampstead
For rail, the closest station is Goring & Streatley station, roughly 3.2 miles north-east. Other landmarks nearby include Yattendon Castle (1.7 miles south-west). For a walk, there is Hartslock.
How it works
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can be seen safely is inspected, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. The survey typically takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. In a small place like Ashampstead, access is typically the main thing to plan. 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.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We look at every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Before the survey
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Leave a clear route to the loft
How to book
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Advice
Landlords, agents and block managers in Ashampstead
We survey roofs for landlords and letting agents as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the chimney stack, with photographs, useful for planning maintenance.
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps with budgets and planning.
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. It shows what we found and where, as far as we could see.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. Early signs are easier to trace.
Why get it checked now?
Most people never get a close look at their chimney stacks. Problems frequently go unnoticed until damp appears inside. Surveying the stack now can catch problems first. Around Ashampstead, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it’s left.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where applicable, which starts from £400, inc. VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
What you get with us
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- An independent look at the roof
- Visits on any day of the week
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
See what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
How the survey changes by roof type
Flaunching
Flaunching takes the worst of the weather. We look for cracks, gaps around the pots and missing pieces.
Rendered stacks
We can’t see the bricks behind render without it being opened up, so the report explains what we could and couldn’t assess.