Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Charlton-on-Otmoor
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Charlton-on-Otmoor and the rest of Oxfordshire. We survey seven days a week.
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Lifted or split lead flashings
About our chimney survey in Charlton-on-Otmoor
A damp patch on a chimney breast doesn’t always come from the same place. Water may be getting in at the top through cracked flaunching or an uncapped pot, through the brickwork, or at the flashings. Condensation inside an unventilated stack is another common cause. We look at each possibility and record what we find. You then know where to start. We survey brick chimney stacks, chimney breasts and flaunching, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are staining on walls around the chimney and flashings pulling away from the stack.
In a village or hamlet like Charlton-on-Otmoor, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
What you get is a clear record of the chimney stack on the day we saw it. That makes it useful now and a handy reference later, such as when you want to compare after future work.
- Where
- Charlton-on-Otmoor (OX5)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Charlton-on-Otmoor
Older buildings in west Oxfordshire frequently 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. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look. Boarstall Tower, about 4 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Charlton-on-Otmoor. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years.
For businesses in and around places such as Bicester Avenue, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies. If you let a flat or house near Islip station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. Take a building like Charlton-on-Otmoor Church of England Primary School: long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
Charlton-on-Otmoor is about 5 miles south of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. Roofs in Charlton-on-Otmoor get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Oxfordshire. Our Oxfordshire coverage includes Charlton-on-Otmoor. Oxford is in our area too.
Every address in OX5 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We offer chimney surveys to properties on High Street, Blacksmiths Lane and Church Lane. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Fencott (1 mile east), Murcott (1 mile east), Merton (1 mile north-east), Wendlebury (2 miles north) and Horton-cum-Studley (3 miles south-east). Further out, we also cover Oxford (6 miles south), Bicester (5 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (12 miles south), Witney (13 miles west), Thame (11 miles south-east) and Kidlington (4 miles west).
Landmarks near Charlton-on-Otmoor
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Crown pub and the streets around them. The nearest railway station is Islip station, about 2.3 miles west. Other landmarks nearby include Bicester Community Hospital (4.2 miles north) and Bicester Avenue (3.6 miles north). Not far away are Graven Hill and Otmoor RSPB reserve.
Before and after the survey
Getting the most from a chimney survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Some tips:
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer or builder. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked, and moved if they’re working it loose. Less load on the stack means less strain in wind.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Photograph them and note the date, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
How it works
The visit has one job: to look at the chimney stack as closely as is safe and record what we find. Notes and photos go into the written report. It usually takes about 1–2 hours for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Somewhere like Charlton-on-Otmoor needs a little journey planning: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We check every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
How to book
When you are ready to go ahead, call 07833 053749 or email us. We’ll suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Related advice
Places near Charlton-on-Otmoor
More services for Charlton-on-Otmoor
Roof by roof
Lead flashings
Mortar fillets are sometimes used where lead would normally be. They tend to crack, so we check them closely.
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.
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
A survey is a careful look at the chimney stack, but it cannot do everything. The main limits are:
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll point you to the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
FAQs for Charlton-on-Otmoor
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Charlton-on-Otmoor?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it is in a conservation area. If a 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.
Do you cover smaller places like Charlton-on-Otmoor?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it’s disturbed.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
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 hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Damp on a chimney breast normally means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. The survey looks at the stack, the flashings and the capping and records the likely cause.
Can you survey in bad weather?
A survey can typically go ahead in light rain, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Strong wind or a downpour can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so if conditions are not right we will arrange another day with you.
When does the report arrive?
It depends on the package: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. Reports are sent by email.
Why act early in Charlton-on-Otmoor
For a buyer, the best time to learn about a chimney is before exchange. Once you’ve exchanged, the work is down to you. A report gives you something specific to put to the seller. Outbuildings and barns around Charlton-on-Otmoor are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Every price we give includes VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Prices start from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
What you get with us
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Prices that include VAT
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- 20+ years’ experience
Read our cost guide or our case studies.