Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Chilson, Oxfordshire
Find out the condition of the chimney stack at your property in Chilson. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
Chimney survey in Chilson
Chimney stacks take more weather than almost any other part of a house. In time, flaunching cracks, mortar washes out and flashings come loose. That lets water into the brickwork, which can show up as damp on a chimney breast or in the roof space. We record what we find with photographs and recommendations. We survey chimney pots and cowls, shared and party-wall stacks and flaunching, and the problems we are asked to look at most are gaps in the mortar around the pots and mortar washing out of the joints.
Somewhere as small as Chilson, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it’s typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
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.
- Where
- Chilson (OX7)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What we are asked to look at in Chilson
The flaunching on top of a stack holds the pots in place and sheds water. Cracked flaunching lets water in, and each winter makes it worse. In time, the pots can become loose.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Bricks with flaking faces
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of All Saints, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Questions to ask before you book
- Which viewpoints they use to see the roof
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Whether you can ask questions once you have the report
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
Leave it or get it looked at?
If a stack seems to lean, do not leave it. Our survey records it and says when a structural engineer should look at it, so you know where you stand. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Chilson, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, with VAT included, and we’ll tell you which fits.
What you get with us
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and our case studies.
How we price chimney surveys
We confirm the price for the job before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- Height and safe access
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
Thermal imaging and drone inspection (where applicable) come with the Premium Survey, from £400 with VAT included. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Helping us price your survey
To price your survey accurately, we will ask about:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- What’s prompted the survey
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Chilson
Older buildings in west Oxfordshire frequently have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Whatever the covering, it’s frequently the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the council can say whether a street is in a conservation area. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent.
For landlords with property near Ascott-Under-Wychwood station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Chilson is about 6 miles north of Witney, in Oxfordshire. Wherever you are in Chilson, we can come and survey your property. Our Oxfordshire coverage includes Chilson. Oxford is in our area too.
Every address in OX7 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Pudlicote Lane and School Lane or anywhere close by, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Shorthampton (1 mile north-east), Ascott-under-Wychwood (1 mile south-west), Ascott d'Oyley (1 mile south-west), Ascott Earl (1 mile south-west) and Chadlington (2 miles north). We also work in nearby towns such as Banbury (15 miles north-east), Witney (6 miles south), Carterton (8 miles south), Faringdon (15 miles south), Kidlington (11 miles east) and Chipping Norton (5 miles north).
Near you in Chilson
The closest station to Chilson is Ascott-Under-Wychwood station, roughly 1.2 miles west. The countryside around Chilson includes Blenheim Farm.
Tips from our surveys
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
You get the report by email and can pass it to whoever does the work. We use plain English and a photo for each defect, so it’s easy to follow.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. It is far simpler than rebuilding a stack later.
Towns and villages near Chilson
Also in Chilson
Chilson questions
Do you cover smaller places like Chilson?
Yes. Chilson is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when you book.
I let a flat near Ascott-Under-Wychwood station. Can you check the roof?
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.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. Shared roofs just need a little more planning. Let us know about it when you book and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
Typically it is water getting in from outside, or condensation in a sealed stack. The survey looks at the stack, the flashings and the capping and records the likely cause.
Does someone need to be in?
It depends on what we need to see. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access, while outside access can be discussed when booking.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
Have it checked rather than leaving it. Leaning frequently comes from mortar breaking down unevenly. We record its condition with photographs, and a structural engineer can assess whether it needs work.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling are not something we do. Where a material might contain it, such as old cement sheets on a building from before 2000, the report flags it.
How the survey works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. You are welcome to ask questions while we’re there. Rural addresses near Chilson can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- 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.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Getting ready for the survey
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Booking a survey
Photos help, if you have them. Pictures from the ground or a window are fine. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
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Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed ahead of time. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.