Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Charlton, Oxfordshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Charlton, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
Chimney survey in Charlton
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and the flashings at the roof line. Inside, we check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft where it’s safe to reach. The findings come in a written report with photos and recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. Common reasons to book are damp on a chimney breast inside and eroded joints in the brickwork, on chimney pots and cowls, shared and party-wall stacks and lead flashings.
Houses in smaller places like Charlton can face open ground, where wind and driving rain hit the roof harder. Ridge tiles, verges, chimney stacks and flashings take the worst of it. Checking those edges shows whether anything has begun to work loose before it lets water in. Once one ridge tile or slate moves, wind gets under the next one too.
If any part of the chimney stack couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Charlton (OX12)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That’s where a survey comes in.
Other services in Charlton
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Charlton
If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
If you live near a park like Betjeman Millennium Park, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching. Anyone responsible for a site like Charlton Primary School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Charlton is about 7 miles west of Didcot, in Oxfordshire. From houses to flats and shops in Charlton, we can survey the roof. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Oxford is in our area too.
Every address in OX12 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Grove Road, Little Lane and Ormond Road and the roads around them. Being close to the A417, Charlton is easy for us to reach for chimney surveys. If you’re just outside Charlton, we cover Wantage (1 mile west), East Challow (2 miles west), Letcombe Regis (2 miles south-west), West Challow (2 miles west) and Childrey (3 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (13 miles north-east), Didcot (7 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (8 miles north-east), Witney (14 miles north), Carterton (14 miles north-west) and Faringdon (8 miles north-west).
What’s near Charlton
In Charlton, that means homes and buildings near Lord Nelson pub, King Alfred's and St Mary's School. A little further out are Williams F1 Grand Prix Collection (1.8 miles north). Not far away are Letcombe Valley and Chain Hill.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney breasts and the loft
In the loft, staining around the stack frequently shows where water is getting in. What we find is photographed and described.
Rendered stacks
Cracked render can let water in and trap it behind. We record any cracking and where it is.
Questions from Charlton
Is my home in Charlton listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Is Charlton in the area you cover?
Yes. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and Charlton is part of that. Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know about the property.
Will you photograph what you find?
Yes. The report includes photos of what we found, so you can see each point for yourself.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
The whole stack, as far as it can safely be seen: from the pots and flaunching down to the flashings. We also note leaning, redundant stacks and damp inside.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof, not the whole building. If you need a full building survey, you’ll need a RICS survey as well.
What will the report tell me?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos. Points are put in order of urgency where relevant.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
It depends on its condition and your plans. We record how the stack is doing and whether it’s capped with ventilation. If you’re thinking of removing it, check with the council first in a conservation area or on a listed building.
How the survey works
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photographs. On timing, it usually takes about 1–2 hours at most homes, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. A visit to Charlton is planned like any other: the time, the access and where to park are agreed in advance. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. If there are outbuildings or garages you want looked at, mention them.
- You let us know how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- Every part we can see is looked at: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Before we arrive
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Check we can get to the back of the property
Book a survey
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
Advice
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan.
Letting agents and landlords in Charlton book surveys as well as homeowners. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the chimney stack.
When to book a survey in Charlton
Chimney stacks stand above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Frost works into cracks in the flaunching and pointing, and rain soaks into worn brickwork. People typically call us when they notice damp or a problem with the stack, or before a purchase.
Problems we come across often include:
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
Take an older house close to Holy Trinity Church: the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
What to check before booking
- What happens after the report arrives
- Their insurance cover
- How they’ll see the roof: from ground level, the loft, the roof or by drone
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
Tips from our surveys
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
You can send the report to roofers or builders for quotes. With the same list in front of each contractor, comparing quotes is simpler.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.