Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Caulcott Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys across Caulcott, backed by more than 20 years’ experience. Every survey ends with a written report and photos.
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
About our chimney survey in Caulcott
If you’re buying a home with chimneys, it is worth knowing their condition before you exchange. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it. If you’ve noticed lifted or split lead flashings and spalled or crumbling bricks, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
In a small place like Caulcott, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Place
- Caulcott (OX25)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
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 it’s easy to follow.
Get small mortar repairs done while they’re small. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
FAQs for Caulcott
Will you come out to Caulcott?
Yes. Caulcott is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
Is my home in Caulcott listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We look at the parts we are given access to.
What does a roof survey cost?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for the job before booking. To get a price, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Will you check the loft?
Where it’s relevant to the survey and there’s safe access, yes. Please clear anything stored under the hatch.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
Do not ignore it. Leaning often comes from mortar breaking down unevenly. We record its condition with photos, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it’s stable.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We note visible signs like sagging or deflection, but we don’t carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. If we think you need an engineer, the report says so.
How it works
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the chimney stack as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Notes and photographs go into the written report. It typically takes between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Older rural homes like those around Caulcott can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We check 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.
Before the survey
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
How to book
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply call 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
Related advice
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney pots and cowls
Pots sit in the flaunching on top of the stack, and cowls or caps sit on the pots. The survey looks for cracked, loose or missing pots and cowls.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Damp patches on chimney breasts frequently point to a problem above. We check the breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level.
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
Honest limits
It helps to know what a survey will not do before you book:
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
If you’re not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
Nearby places to Caulcott
What else we do in Caulcott
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Caulcott
Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, ideally before any re-roofing is planned.
If you live in an older home near Heyford Park Chapel, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. Landlords with a home close to Heyford station may find that a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Caulcott is about 5 miles west of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. Whether the building in Caulcott is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Oxford page.
Chimney surveys in OX25 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include South Street, Lower Heyford Road and Greenway. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Upper Heyford (1 mile north), Lower Heyford (1 mile west), Middleton Stoney (2 miles east), Ardley (3 miles north-east) and Somerton (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (11 miles south), Banbury (11 miles north), Bicester (5 miles east), Witney (13 miles south-west), Kidlington (7 miles south) and Headington Quarry (11 miles south).
Near you in Caulcott
For rail, the closest station is Heyford station, roughly 1.6 miles west. A little further out are Bicester Community Hospital (4.6 miles east) and Ardley Castle (2.7 miles north-east).
What affects the price in Caulcott
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The roof’s overall size
- Which survey package you book
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where it applies) come with the Premium Survey, which starts from £400, with VAT included. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
Booking your survey
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Dates you’re working to, like exchange
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.