Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Checkendon
Need a chimney survey in Checkendon? We can help, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
Chimney survey in Checkendon
If you are buying a home with chimneys, it’s worth knowing their condition before you exchange. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. You get photographs and findings you can take back to the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. Common reasons to book are flaunching that has broken away and eroded joints in the brickwork, across flaunching, chimney breasts and brick chimney stacks.
In a small place like Checkendon, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are frequently the first to give way.
With the Standard Survey, you also get moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Checkendon (RG8)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
The survey, step by step
After the inspection, everything we found is written up in a report with photos, sent to you by email. On timing, it typically takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Rural addresses near Checkendon can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- The stacks are looked at from ground level, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access.
- You get a written report with photos and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
- Keep pets in another room
How to book
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Advice
How the survey changes by roof type
Flaunching
Sitting at the very top, flaunching is fully exposed. The survey checks for cracking and gaps around each pot.
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. Cracks are photographed and noted.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- How big the roof is
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- House, block, shop or office
Simple, low roofs take less time to survey than tall or complicated ones, and the package you pick makes a difference too. The price is always agreed first.
What we need to know
Here’s what helps us most when you contact us:
- The property’s address and postcode
- What made you get in touch
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- What kind of property and roof it is
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine; never climb up to get a better view. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we look at the roof.
Honest limits
Every survey has limits, and it is better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Flue inspections or sweeping
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll suggest the right survey before you book. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
FAQs for Checkendon
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Goring & Streatley station?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. You can ring 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you need, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
How do I find out if my home in Checkendon is listed?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but we don’t provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. The report will say if you need an engineer.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement.
How can you see the top of the stack?
We use safe viewpoints rather than climbing onto the stack. A drone inspection is part of the Premium Survey where applicable. Any area we couldn’t view is noted.
What do you check on a chimney?
The whole stack, as far as it can be seen safely: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings. We also note leaning, redundant stacks and damp inside.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We check everything that can be seen safely: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the roof space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where it applies. Anything we cannot see is noted in the report.
Chimney surveys around Checkendon
With Greys Court about 3.5 miles east, Checkendon sits in an area with a long building history. On older houses around here, roofs frequently carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead. West Oxfordshire’s older buildings often carry Cotswold stone slates, and a few villages in the county keep their thatch. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
For landlords with property near Goring & Streatley station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. Take a building like Checkendon Church of England (A) Primary School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. If your home is one of the older ones in the streets near St Peter and St Paul, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Checkendon is about 6 miles north-west of Caversham, in Oxfordshire. We carry out chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Checkendon. Checkendon is one of the towns and villages in Oxfordshire where we work. Our Reading page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the RG8 postcode area for chimney surveys. Streets in the area include Uxmore Road, Whitehall Lane and Lovegrove's Lane, all of which we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Stoke Row (1 mile east), Hook End (1 mile south), Woodcote (2 miles south-west), Heath End (2 miles north) and Ipsden (2 miles north-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Didcot (10 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles north-west), Thame (14 miles north), Henley-on-Thames (6 miles east), Benson (6 miles north-west) and Chinnor (12 miles north-east).
Near you in Checkendon
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Langtree School and The Black Horse pub and the streets around them. Checkendon’s nearest station is Goring & Streatley station, roughly 4.4 miles south-west of the centre. The countryside around Checkendon includes Hartslock.
What happens if roof problems are left?
A damp chimney breast seldom dries out until the cause is found. It can stain walls and damage plaster. Knowing whether it is the flaunching, flashings, brickwork or ventilation means the right fix can be planned. Outbuildings and barns around Checkendon are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report isn’t charged as an extra. Chimney survey starts 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
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Clear package prices, including VAT
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
See our cost guide and our case studies.