Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Cumnor
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching across Cumnor, using drones and thermal imaging where applicable. Call or email for a price.
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Worn or missing pointing
Checking the roof from ground level
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Don’t go up yourself.
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Chimney survey in Cumnor: what you get
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it. Typical surveys look at gaps where the stack meets the roof and damp patches on chimney breasts, on shared and party-wall stacks, chimney pots and cowls and brick chimney stacks.
Some older homes in villages like Cumnor are listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Older materials like clay tiles, slate and stone are frequently matched when work is done.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photographs, emailed to you. It explains the condition of the chimney stack, the defects we found and what we recommend.
- Where
- Cumnor (OX2)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
More services for Cumnor
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney pots and cowls
For unused flues, we check whether caps or cowls allow ventilation. Capping without ventilation can trap moisture.
Flaunching
Flaunching takes the worst of the weather. The survey checks for cracking and gaps around each pot.
How the survey works
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take an hour or two for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. For a village or hamlet like Cumnor, the journey is planned in advance: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. On the day, we inspect what can be seen safely, inside and out.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there’s access.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If you’re buying, check with the agent that we can get in
Getting a price
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or email us. You’ll have a price before anything is arranged.
Related advice
Before and after the survey
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
You get the report by email and can pass it to whoever does the work. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. Early signs are easier to trace.
Chimney surveys around Cumnor
The wider area around Cumnor has a long history of building, with Appleton Manor about 1.9 miles south-west. If yours is one of the older homes, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof. West Oxfordshire’s older buildings frequently carry Cotswold stone slates, and a few villages in the county keep their 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 often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
Take a building like Cumnor Church of England School (Voluntary Controlled): large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. Take an older house close to Church of St Michael: the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Cumnor is about 4 miles north-west of Abingdon-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire. Surveys in Cumnor work the same way as everywhere we cover: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Across Oxfordshire, we cover Cumnor and the places around it.
All of OX2 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include High Street, The Park and The Winnyards, all of which we cover. If you’re just outside Cumnor, we cover Chawley (1 mile north-east), Filchampstead (1 mile north-west), Henwood (1 mile south-east), Dean Court (2 miles north-east) and Botley (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Oxford (5 miles east), Didcot (9 miles south-east), Bicester (14 miles north-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (4 miles south-east), Witney (8 miles north-west) and Carterton (11 miles west).
Around Cumnor
Around Cumnor, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Vine Inn and Matthew Arnold School and the streets around them. Cumnor’s nearest station is Oxford station, about 3.1 miles north-east. Nearby you’ll also find Westgate Shopping Centre (3.3 miles north-east) and Radcliffe Infirmary (3.6 miles north-east). Open spaces near Cumnor include Lashford Lane Fen and Cumnor Hill.
Cumnor: your questions answered
Will you come out to Cumnor?
Yes, Cumnor is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
Can a landlord with a rental near Oxford station book a roof survey?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you need, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Let us know your preferred days when booking.
Does someone need to be in?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. We’ll talk about access as you book.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. A flue inspection, sweep or gas safety check is a separate job. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
How much is a survey?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, including VAT.
What this survey cannot tell you
Our survey is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Flue inspections or sweeping
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Cumnor
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
What we’re asked to look at in Cumnor
A stack takes the weather from every direction. Frost works into cracks in the flaunching and pointing, and rain soaks into worn brickwork. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near Westgate Shopping Centre, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What experience they bring
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- How long the report takes to arrive