Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Duns Tew, Oxfordshire
Chimney surveys in Duns Tew and the rest of Oxfordshire. Surveys run on any day of the week.
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
Practical tips
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out as worth the effort:
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
If the report recommends a structural engineer, a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer, it will say why. That helps you brief them.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked, and moved if they’re working it loose. Less load on the stack means less strain in wind.
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Duns Tew
A damp patch on a chimney breast doesn’t always come from the same place. It might come in at the top, through worn pointing or porous bricks, or where the flashings meet the roof. Moisture trapped inside a stack with no ventilation can also cause damp. We check each possibility and record what we find. You then know where to start. We survey lead flashings, chimney pots and cowls and shared and party-wall stacks, and the problems we’re asked to look at most are pots or cowls that look unsafe and frost-damaged brickwork on the stack.
Older buildings in small places like Duns Tew may be 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. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Location
- Duns Tew (OX25)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Chimney surveys in Duns Tew: local notes
There are about 500,000 buildings on England’s list of listed buildings, and around 10,000 conservation areas. If your home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission, so the council is the place to ask. West Oxfordshire’s older buildings often 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. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary Magdalene are often among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Duns Tew is about 8 miles south of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. Bookings from Duns Tew are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Duns Tew is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover. Our Oxford page covers surveys nearby.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: OX25. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Main Street, Glebe Court and Middle Barton Road or a nearby road, we can survey it. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Dane Hill (1 mile north-east), North Aston (1 mile east), Middle Aston (1 mile south-east), Steeple Aston (2 miles south-east) and Nether Worton (2 miles west). We also work in nearby towns such as Oxford (15 miles south), Banbury (8 miles north), Bicester (8 miles south-east), Witney (13 miles south-west), Kidlington (9 miles south) and Headington Quarry (14 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Duns Tew
Around Duns Tew, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The White Horse Inn, among other places. Duns Tew’s nearest station is Heyford station, roughly 2.8 miles south-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Old Forge Museum (Great Tew) (3.9 miles west) and Deddington Castle (2.1 miles north-east).
Nearby places to Duns Tew
What else we do in Duns Tew
What you can safely check yourself
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
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. Do not go up yourself.
Why it is worth a survey now in Duns Tew
Loose pots and bricks on a stack are a safety concern. Finding them early means they can be dealt with before they come down by a suitable contractor. For older village homes like those around Duns Tew, the right replacement materials are not always easy to find quickly. That’s one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included. The price for your roof depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Duns Tew
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Thermal imaging and drone inspection where they help
What we’re asked to look at in Duns Tew
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We record what we can see in the loft and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Worn or missing pointing
- A chimney out of line
- Lifted or split lead flashings
Landlords with a home close to Heyford station may find that a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- What they will not be able to tell you
- What follow-up you get after the report
Questions from Duns Tew
Is my home in Duns Tew listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
I let a flat near Heyford station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the building, including who will give access on the day.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but we do not provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. The report will say if you need an engineer.
What should I do with a chimney I do not use?
An unused stack still needs to stay weathertight and ventilated. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. Our survey records its condition and how it’s capped, so you can plan what to do with it.
Are you insured?
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover our surveys. Ask if you need details for a managing agent or building owner.
Why is my chimney breast 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. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause.
Does the weather affect the survey?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drones cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We’ll rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
What we can’t see
A survey is a close look at the chimney stack, but it can’t do everything. The main limits are:
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
- Flue inspections or sweeping
If you are not sure which survey you need, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. What our survey covers.
Roof types and parts we check
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
What happens on the day
When we arrive, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you’d like to know. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen. The survey typically takes about one to two hours at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Somewhere as small as Duns Tew, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
Getting a price
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.