Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Banbury, Oxfordshire
Know where you stand with the chimney stack before you spend money on it. Chimney surveys in Banbury, with photos and a clear written report.
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Flaunching that has broken away
Chimney survey in Banbury
A chimney stands up above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Over the years, the flaunching cracks, the pointing wears and flashings lift. Water then gets into the stack and can show as damp on a chimney breast or a stain in the loft. We record what we find with photos and recommendations. We survey flaunching, shared and party-wall stacks and brick chimney stacks, and people most frequently book us about redundant stacks capped without ventilation and worn or missing pointing.
Semis and terraces in a town like Banbury share roof details with the neighbours. A shared chimney stack or a gutter run across two houses means a defect may sit partly on someone else’s property. Shared parts are looked at as far as they can safely be seen from the property we’re surveying. It’s useful to mention any shared stacks or gutters when you book.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, sent by email. It sets out the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Where
- Banbury (OX16, OX17)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Prices vary from roof to roof, and it comes down to:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The size of the roof
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. We will give you the figure before anything is booked.
Helping us price your survey
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Where the property is, with the postcode
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- What made you get in touch
If you are buying, it is useful to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or use the contact form whenever suits you.
Leave it or get it looked at?
A leaning stack should be looked at sooner rather than later. We record its condition and recommend a structural engineer where needed, so you can decide what to do next. Extensions and dormers on homes around Banbury often hide the first signs of trouble at their joints with the main roof. A few wet winters later, it can mean new plaster and decorating as well as roof work.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Prices start from £150, including VAT.
Why book with us
- A report with photos
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
- Packages from £150, including VAT
Take a look at what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Also near Banbury
Other services in Banbury
What happens on the day
A survey visit follows a simple order: we hear what you’ve seen, inspect the roof from each safe vantage point, take photos as we go and record our findings for the written report. It usually takes about one to two hours for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. For a home in Banbury, the main things we need are a way into the loft, a route to the back garden and somewhere to park. Someone needs to let us in, so tell us who that will be.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- 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
- Check pets are kept safely away
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Let us know where we can park nearby
Book a survey
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
Tips that help
Small things make a difference. Some pointers:
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
After the visit, we write up the report with photographs of each stack. It explains the condition of each part of the stack and any damp inside. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. Early signs are easier to trace.
Local roofs in Banbury
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. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. With Broughton Castle about 2.5 miles south-west, Banbury sits in an area with a long building history. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Homes near green spaces like People's Park can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching. If you live in an older home near Saint Paul's, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. If you look after a building such as St Mary's Church of England Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Banbury is in Oxfordshire. Anywhere in Banbury, we can carry out chimney surveys at your property. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Oxford page.
We survey roofs across OX16 and OX17 for chimney surveys. If you need a chimney survey at a property on High Street, Market Place and Grimsbury Square or a nearby road, we can survey it. Banbury sits on or near the A361 and A422, so getting to you is simple. We also cover Neithrop (1 mile west), Ruscote (1 mile west), Grimsbury (1 mile east), Drayton (1 mile north-west) and North Newington (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Bicester (14 miles south-east), Bure Park (13 miles south-east), Chipping Norton (12 miles south-west), Woodstock (15 miles south), Bloxham (3 miles south) and Charlbury (14 miles south-west). Being one of Oxfordshire’s larger places, Banbury has every kind of building, from houses and flats to offices.
Landmarks near Banbury
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to People's Park, Banbury Academy and Duke of Wellington pub and the streets around them. Banbury’s nearest station is Banbury station, about 0.8 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Castle Quay Shopping Centre (0.5 miles east) and Banbury Castle (0.5 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Crouch Hill and Farthinghoe Nature Reserve.
How the survey changes by roof type
Rendered stacks
Some stacks are rendered, which can hide the condition of the brickwork beneath. The survey checks for cracking, bulging and staining in the render.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Where a breast has been taken out, we check what supports the stack. Confirming the support is a job for a structural engineer.
Banbury questions
Do you carry out roof surveys in Banbury?
Yes, Banbury is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Banbury station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Normally it is water getting in from outside, or condensation in a sealed stack. The survey looks at the stack, the flashings and the capping and records the likely cause.
What should I do with a chimney I do not use?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. We check how it’s capped and its condition, so you can plan what to do with it.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
Will you check the loft?
If the survey needs it and the roof space can be reached safely, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, as long as access is agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is often shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We can only inspect what we are given access to.
DIY checks: what’s safe
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.