Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Charney Bassett
Find out what’s going on with the chimney stack before you spend money on it. We carry out chimney surveys in Charney Bassett.
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
What we’re asked to look at in Charney Bassett
Years of fires can affect the mortar inside a stack. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which can make a stack lean.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Mortar washing out of the joints
If you live in an older home near Church of St Peter, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- What happens after the report arrives
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- Whether the price includes VAT
Chimney survey in Charney Bassett: what you get
A chimney survey is about the outside of the stack and the roof around it. It is not a flue inspection, a chimney sweep or a gas safety inspection. If you use a fire or a gas appliance, the flue should be checked by a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer as appropriate. If something we see points to the flue, we will say so. Typical surveys look at flashings pulling away from the stack and a chimney out of line, across flaunching, chimney pots and cowls and brick chimney stacks.
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 roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Place
- Charney Bassett (OX12)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
What we do, step by step
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. If you have questions on the day, just ask. Older rural homes like those around Charney Bassett can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely.
- 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.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before the survey
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
How to book
Unsure which package suits your roof? It is easiest to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Charney Bassett
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Older houses in the South East frequently have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. With Longworth House about 2.9 miles north, Charney Bassett sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Charney Bassett is about 4 miles north of Wantage, in Oxfordshire. From houses to flats and shops in Charney Bassett, we can survey the roof. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. There is also a page for Oxford.
Chimney surveys in OX12 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Main Street, Buckland Road and New Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Charney Bassett: Lyford (1 mile east), Denchworth (2 miles south), Pusey (2 miles north-west), West Hanney (2 miles south-east) and Goosey (2 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Oxford (12 miles north-east), Didcot (9 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (8 miles east), Witney (10 miles north), Carterton (10 miles north-west) and Wantage (4 miles south).
What’s near Charney Bassett
Around Charney Bassett, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Chequers pub, among other places. Other landmarks nearby include Longworth Hospital (5.7 miles west) and Hinton Waldrist Castle (2.7 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Chain Hill.
Honest limits
A survey is a proper look at the chimney stack, but it cannot do everything. Its limits include:
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
Roof types and parts we check
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, with the most urgent items set out first.
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, with the report sent to whoever needs it. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Charney Bassett questions
Do you cover Charney Bassett?
Yes, Charney Bassett is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is Charney Bassett within the area you cover?
Yes, Charney Bassett is covered. Our area covers London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
What’s the best way to book?
The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or email us. Give us the address and a few details about the roof, and we will recommend the right survey. Surveys run seven days a week.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. Our survey covers the outside of the stack and the roof around it. For the flue, you’ll need a sweep or, for gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
An unused stack still needs to stay weathertight and ventilated. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. We check how it is capped and its condition, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
How can you see the top of the stack?
Each stack is viewed from the safest viewpoints: from the ground, windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there is access. A drone inspection is included in our Premium Survey where it applies. If part of a stack cannot be seen, the report says so.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. We check the parts we can see safely and the parts you can give us access to. If a defect seems to be on your neighbour’s side, the report records it and you can raise it with them.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
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. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Nearby places to Charney Bassett
More services for Charney Bassett
What happens if roof problems are left?
If you’re thinking of removing or reducing a stack, it is useful to know its condition first. Changes to stacks in conservation areas or on listed buildings may need consent and the council can advise. For older village homes like those around Charney Bassett, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so they’re priced to match. You will know the figure before booking.
Why book with us
- Visits on any day of the week
- Every finding written up with photos
- 20+ years’ experience
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability