Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Bicester
Chimney surveys in Bicester, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- A chimney out of line
What this survey cannot tell you
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, and that sets some limits:
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- Conditions inside walls
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
How a chimney survey works in Bicester
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is often shared with next door. We check whatever is safely visible and what the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it, so you can talk to them. Everything is written up with photos and our recommendations. If you’ve noticed lifted or split lead flashings and damp patches on chimney breasts, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Most homes in a town like Bicester are houses, so the roof is normally the owner’s to look after. A slipped tile or blocked gutter costs far less to sort than the damp it causes later. The report sets out what needs attention, prioritised by urgency where relevant, whether you live in the house or let it. Photos show you exactly what was seen, even on parts you cannot reach yourself.
The report does not just list problems. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Location
- Bicester (OX26, OX27)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
The visit has one job: to see as much of the chimney stack as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Notes and photos go into the written report. The visit normally takes between one and two hours at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. For a visit in Bicester, we need access to the loft, any rooms with leaks or stains, and the outside of the building. Mention gates, side passages and anything at the back. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We check the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before we arrive
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
Getting a price
To get a price for chimney surveys in Bicester, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email. Some details about the property and the roof help us price the survey accurately.
Related advice
How we price chimney surveys
Our packages start from £150, including VAT. The price for your roof depends on:
- The size of the roof
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- The shape of the roof and its details
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we will tell you which fits.
Getting in touch
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- What made you get in touch
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Local roofs in Bicester
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 often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings. If your home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission, so the council is the place to ask.
Shop and office owners around Bicester Village may find that a dated report on the roof is useful for planning and for any lease discussions. If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Edburg, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. If you look after a building such as Brookside Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Bicester is about 11 miles north of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. From houses to flats and shops in Bicester, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire. There’s also a page for Oxford.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: OX26 and OX27. Streets in the area include Market Square, Market End Way and London Road, and we cover them all. Being close to the A4095 and B4100, Bicester is easy for us to reach. Close by, we survey roofs in Bure Park (1 mile north), Caversfield (1 mile north), Bucknell (2 miles north-west), Stratton Audley (3 miles north-east) and Stoke Lyne (3 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Oxford (11 miles south), Banbury (14 miles north-west), Thame (13 miles south-east), Kidlington (8 miles south-west), Headington Quarry (10 miles south) and St John Street area (11 miles south-west). Bicester is among the bigger towns we cover in Oxfordshire.
What’s near Bicester
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Bicester Technology Studio and The Plough pub and the streets around them. Bicester has its own railway station: Bicester North station. Nearby you’ll also find Bicester Community Hospital (under half a mile south) and Bicester Village (0.7 miles south). Not far away are Graven Hill and Woodsides Meadow.
Bicester: your questions answered
Do you cover Bicester?
Yes, Bicester is within the area we cover. Our area covers London and the South East. Just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know about the property, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Is my home in Bicester listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t 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 use drones?
Yes, where it’s applicable. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes, plenty. Each finding is shown in a picture where possible, so you can see what we mean.
How do I arrange a chimney survey in Bicester?
Just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
How long is the visit?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof, but most surveys take an hour or two for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. The written report follows by email.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Towns and villages near Bicester
More services for Bicester
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date.
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. A few suggestions:
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- 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
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
With a shared stack, the report can help when talking to next door. It shows what we found and where, as far as we could see.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. Early signs are easier to trace.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Damp in a chimney breast normally gets worse while the cause is left. It can spoil decoration and plaster. Finding the cause means the right work can be planned. Extensions and dormers on homes around Bicester frequently 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.
Bigger, taller and commercial roofs take more time to survey, so the price reflects that. You will know the figure before booking.
Why book with us
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- Every finding written up with photos
- Surveys seven days a week