Buckinghamshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Botolph Claydon, Buckinghamshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching around Botolph Claydon, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Flaunching that has broken away
Chimney survey in Botolph Claydon: what you get
A leaning chimney stack is worth having looked at. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down, often after years of flue gases and damp. We record the lean and the condition of the brickwork and pointing. If the stack looks like a structural issue, the report recommends a structural engineer. If you are worried about damp on a chimney breast inside and a stack that appears to lean, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
Village roofs frequently face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, with a note and a photo for each point. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- Botolph Claydon (MK18)
- Region
- Buckinghamshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Honest limits
Every survey has limits, and we’d rather be clear about that before booking. Bear these in mind:
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Whether the flue is safe to use
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will tell you. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Botolph Claydon
- Flaunching
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney pots and cowls
On redundant flues, we look at how the pots are capped. Capping without ventilation can trap moisture.
Brick stacks
Many older stacks were built with lime mortar. Repairs should suit the original materials, which we mention where relevant.
Can I check my roof myself?
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Share it with us when booking, as it helps us focus the survey.
Your own check is a good start, 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.
Towns and villages near Botolph Claydon
Also in Botolph Claydon
Botolph Claydon: your questions answered
How do I find out if my home in Botolph Claydon is listed?
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.
Do you cover smaller places like Botolph Claydon?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you use drones?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We are a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID), flying a sub-250g drone. Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where it applies.
What does a chimney survey cover?
Every part of the stack we can see from safe positions: from the pots and flaunching down to the flashings. We also note leaning, redundant stacks and damp inside.
What happens after the survey?
You receive the written report by email, with photographs and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes, plenty. Pictures sit next to the findings they show.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
Surveys run seven days a week. To find a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They apply to most roofs:
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare.
Check fixings on the stack are sound and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Less load on the stack means less strain in wind.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Botolph Claydon
Historic houses like Claydon House, about 1 mile west, show how far back building in the area around Botolph Claydon goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters. Some villages in Buckinghamshire still have thatched roofs. 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.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as East Claydon Church of England School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Botolph Claydon is about 6 miles south of Buckingham, in Buckinghamshire. If you are in Botolph Claydon, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Botolph Claydon is one of the towns and villages in Buckinghamshire we cover for chimney surveys. Our Milton Keynes page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the MK18 postcode area for chimney surveys. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Botyl Road and Orchard Way. If you are just outside Botolph Claydon, we cover East Claydon (1 mile north), Middle Claydon (1 mile north-west), Steeple Claydon (3 miles north-west), Adstock (3 miles north) and Padbury (4 miles north). We also work in nearby towns like Aylesbury (9 miles south-east), Buckingham (6 miles north), Elmhurst (8 miles south-east), Southcourt (9 miles south-east), Princes Risborough (14 miles south) and Haydon Hill (7 miles south-east).
Around Botolph Claydon
Other landmarks nearby include Bolbec Castle (4.7 miles south-east). For a walk, there’s Calvert Jubilee.
What we do, step by step
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes between one and two hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. Somewhere like Botolph Claydon needs a little journey planning: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it’s safe.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We look at 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.
How to prepare
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Check we can get to the back of the property
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
Arrange a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form to find out.
Related advice
Do you need a chimney survey in Botolph Claydon?
Aerials and dishes are often fixed to stacks. Their weight and the wind on them can loosen bricks and pointing. We check fixings on the stack as part of the survey.
It is worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Worn or missing pointing
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near Church of St Mary, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What happens after the report arrives
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?