Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Blenheim Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Blenheim, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
About our chimney survey in Blenheim
Chimney stacks take more weather than almost any other part of a house. 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. A survey finds these problems and records them with photographs. We survey chimney breasts, lead flashings and shared and party-wall stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are mortar washing out of the joints and damp patches on chimney breasts.
Village roofs often 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 written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are frequently where weather gets in first.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Blenheim (OX44)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
We work from the outside in: first the slopes, edges and gutters from every safe viewpoint, then the roof space where it can be reached. All told, expect about 1–2 hours at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. Somewhere like Blenheim needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before we arrive
- If you are buying, check with the agent that we can get in
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
How to book
When you’re ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or email us. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Related advice
When you need someone else
Some things can’t be seen without opening up the roof, so a survey has limits:
- Hidden damage within the stack
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer before booking. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
Nearby places to Blenheim
Other services in Blenheim
Chimney surveys around Blenheim
West Oxfordshire’s older buildings often carry Cotswold stone slates, and a few villages in the county keep their thatch. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. Historic houses like Garsington Manor, about 0.5 miles south, show how far back building in the area around Blenheim goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you run a business near Templars Square, a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks. If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Blenheim is about 4 miles south-east of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. We survey roofs in Blenheim and the rest of Oxfordshire, as part of our work across London and the South East. Blenheim is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover for chimney surveys.
Chimney surveys in OX44 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include Wheatley Road and North Manor, all of which we cover. We also cover the places around Blenheim: Garsington (1 mile west), Denton (1 mile east), Cuddesdon (1 mile east), Horspath (1 mile north-west) and Littleworth (2 miles north). Further out, we also cover Oxford (4 miles north-west), Didcot (9 miles south-west), Bicester (13 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (6 miles south-west), Witney (15 miles west) and Thame (8 miles east).
What’s near Blenheim
We work in homes and buildings around Red Lion pub, Wheatley Park School and Library Farmhouse. The nearest railway station is Radley station, about 4.3 miles south-west of the centre. A little further out are British Tattoo History Museum (3.2 miles north-west) and Oxford Castle (5 miles north-west). For a walk, there’s Wells Farm and Shotover.
What a survey costs
Several things affect the price of a survey:
- Which survey package you book
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The shape of the roof and its details
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, how it can safely be seen and which survey you book.
What we need to know
There is no need for technical words. Just let us know:
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- The address and postcode of the property
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
To book a survey, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Tips that help
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer or builder. We use plain English and a photo for each defect so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.
Questions from Blenheim
Do you cover smaller places like Blenheim?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Blenheim?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
How soon will I get the report?
It depends on the package: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. The report is emailed to you.
Does the weather affect the survey?
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 aren’t right we will arrange another day with you.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. Visible signs such as deflection or sagging are recorded, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. The report will say if you need an engineer.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
It depends on its condition and your plans. We record how the stack is doing and whether it’s capped with ventilation. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need consent.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Yes, where it is applicable. Flights depend on the weather on the day and airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We’re a CAA-registered drone operator.
Common roof problems in Blenheim
Chimney stacks stand above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Frost opens up cracks in the mortar, and rain gets into worn bricks and joints. People typically call us when they notice damp or a problem with the stack, or before a purchase.
Problems we come across often include:
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- A stack that appears to lean
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Bricks with flaking faces
If you look after a building such as Garsington Church of England Primary School, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What happens after the report arrives
- What exactly goes into their report
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
Landlords, agents and block managers in Blenheim
Letting agents and landlords in Blenheim book surveys as well as householders. The report gives you a dated record of the chimney stack, with photographs.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Blenheim and across Oxfordshire can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.