Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Crowell
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching across Crowell, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
About our chimney survey in Crowell
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We inspect the parts we can see safely and the parts the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it and you can then discuss it with them. You get a written report with photos and our recommendations. If you’re worried about flashings pulling away from the stack and eroded joints in the brickwork, a survey will tell you what’s going on.
In a village or hamlet like Crowell, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are frequently old. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it is normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Where
- Crowell (OX39)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. We inspect what can safely be seen, and anything we can’t see is noted in the report. The survey normally takes about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Around Crowell, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so it is useful to know whether there’s a loft hatch and how easy it is to reach. We only go where it is safe.
- You let us know how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- The stacks are looked at from ground level, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the loft space where we can reach them.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Preparing for the visit
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Leave side gates unlocked
Arrange a survey
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and give us some details about the property and we will suggest the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
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Crowell questions
Will you come out to Crowell?
Yes, Crowell is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Princes Risborough station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
How soon will I get the report?
That depends on the survey you book: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. Reports are sent by email.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed, and the report notes anything we couldn’t see.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
It can come from several places: water getting in at the top, through the brickwork or at the flashings, or moisture trapped in a stack with no ventilation. We check each one and note the most likely cause.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. We check how it is capped and its condition, so you can plan what to do with it.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
Why it’s worth a survey now in Crowell
If you are thinking of removing or reducing a stack, it’s useful to know its condition first. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need permission from the council and the council can advise. For an older or listed building in a place like Crowell, repairs may need matching materials and consent, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, with VAT included. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why us?
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
What affects the price in Crowell
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The size of the roof
- The use of thermal imaging or a drone
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
We offer three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, all with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you’d like to know.
Helping us price your survey
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- The property’s address and postcode
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
When you are ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Nearby places to Crowell
Also in Crowell
Practical tips
Nothing here needs a ladder. Our suggestions:
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
After the visit, we write up the report with photos of each stack. It covers the pots, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings, and any damp we found inside. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. That helps stop damp building up inside.
Crowell homes and their roofs
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. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Historic houses such as Adwell House, about 2.9 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Crowell goes. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
Take an older house close to Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs. If you let a flat or house near Princes Risborough station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Crowell is about 4 miles south-east of Thame, in Oxfordshire. From houses to flats and shops in Crowell, the roof can be surveyed on a weekday or at the weekend. Our Oxfordshire coverage includes Crowell and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Oxford page.
All of OX39 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We also cover Kingston Blount (1 mile west), Oakley (1 mile north-east), Crowell Hill (1 mile south-east), Aston Rowant (1 mile south-west) and Postcombe (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (14 miles west), Didcot (15 miles west), Abingdon-on-Thames (15 miles west), Thame (4 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (11 miles south) and Benson (9 miles south-west).
What’s near Crowell
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Shepherd's Crook pub. The nearest railway station is Princes Risborough station, roughly 3.9 miles north-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Thame Community Hospital (4.2 miles north-west). Open spaces near Crowell include Oakley Hill nature reserve and Bald Hill.
Common roof problems in Crowell
Flaunching is the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the top. Once it cracks, water gets in and frost makes the cracks bigger. Loose pots can follow.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- A chimney out of line
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
Take a building like Mill Lane Community Primary School: its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Are they insured for the work?
- What happens after the report arrives
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
Should I look at the roof myself first?
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, checking for stains, damp wood or chinks of daylight.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from the ground or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.