Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Fawley Bottom, Oxfordshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Fawley Bottom and the rest of Oxfordshire. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Lifted or split lead flashings
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Fawley Bottom
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. On older stacks, we often find cracked flaunching, loose flashings and worn pointing. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it. Common reasons to book are frost-damaged brickwork on the stack and damp patches on chimney breasts, on chimney breasts, chimney pots and cowls and shared and party-wall stacks.
In a small place like Fawley Bottom, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Place
- Fawley Bottom (RG9)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Rendered stacks
We cannot see the bricks behind render without it being opened up, so the report says what can and can’t be judged.
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. Caught early, it’s often a small job.
Nearby places to Fawley Bottom
What else we do in Fawley Bottom
How the survey works
We photograph the roof as we go, so the report shows exactly what we saw. We take close-ups from wherever is safe, including by drone where it’s applicable and the weather allows. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. Older rural homes like those around Fawley Bottom can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, the chimney breasts and the loft are checked for damp where there is access.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- 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
Most bookings start with a short call: ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll ask a few questions about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Advice
Prices for chimney surveys in Fawley Bottom
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. You will know the figure before booking.
What we need to know
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- The style of property, from a terrace to a block
Our phone lines are open seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. For a price or to book, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
We only report what can safely be seen on the day, so there are some things a survey can’t cover:
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Whether the flue is safe to use
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll suggest the right survey before you book. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Fawley Bottom
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
Can I check my roof myself?
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Water spilling over the edge can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Why act early in Fawley Bottom
Cracked flaunching and worn pointing are often modest repairs when they’re caught early. Leave it, and frost can work the stack loose, and the work grows. In a small place like Fawley Bottom, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
There are three survey packages: the Basic Survey from £150, the Standard Survey from £250 and the Premium Survey from £400, with VAT included. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
What you get with us
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
Take a look at our cost guide and two real surveys.
Fawley Bottom homes and their roofs
Stonor Park, about 1.5 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Fawley Bottom. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. West Oxfordshire’s older buildings often carry Cotswold stone slates, and a few villages in the county keep their thatch. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them.
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near St Mary the Virgin's Church, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. If you let a flat or house near Henley-On-Thames station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Fawley Bottom is about 3 miles north of Henley-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire. We provide chimney surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Fawley Bottom and the surrounding area. Fawley Bottom is one of the towns and villages in Oxfordshire where we work for chimney surveys. Our Reading page covers surveys nearby.
All of RG9 is covered for chimney surveys. If you are just outside Fawley Bottom, we cover Fawley (1 mile east), Middle Assendon (1 mile south-west), Lower Assendon (1 mile south), Bix (1 mile south-west) and Catslip (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Didcot (14 miles west), Thame (12 miles north), Benson (8 miles west), Chinnor (9 miles north), Tilehurst (9 miles south-west) and Wallingford (9 miles west).
Around Fawley Bottom
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Walnut Tree pub and the streets around them. The closest station to Fawley Bottom is Henley-On-Thames station, about 3 miles south. Other landmarks nearby include Frazer Nash Archives (3.4 miles south). For a walk, there is Warburg Nature Reserve.
FAQs for Fawley Bottom
Is my home in Fawley Bottom listed or in a conservation area?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. The answer matters most when a change of material is on the cards.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Henley-On-Thames station?
Of course. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Should I worry about a leaning stack?
Do not ignore it. Stacks can lean when mortar on one side breaks down. We record its condition with photographs, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it is stable.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
If the survey includes the loft or the inside of the building, someone needs to let us in. Access is agreed with you as you book.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
We check the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings. Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. Everything is written up with photographs.
What does a roof survey cost?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The final figure depends on the roof and the package you choose.
What if it rains on the day?
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. If the conditions are not right, we’ll talk to you about another date.