Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Frieth, Oxfordshire
Get a clear view of the chimney stack at a property in Frieth. Visits run on weekdays and weekends, in the daytime.
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
About our chimney survey in Frieth
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: the pots and cowls, the flaunching on top, the pointing, the brickwork and the flashings where it meets the roof. We also look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access. The findings come in a written report with photos and recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. We survey flaunching, chimney pots and cowls and chimney breasts, and common reasons people get in touch are flaunching that has broken away and damp patches on chimney breasts.
Some older homes in villages like Frieth are listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
Most points in the report come with a picture, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. If something couldn’t be seen safely, the report is clear about it.
- Location
- Frieth (RG9)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Common questions in Frieth
How do I find out if my home in Frieth is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Is Frieth within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
What will the report tell me?
It explains what we saw, what it means and what we’d suggest, backed by photos. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too, so you know exactly what was covered.
Our stack is shared. Can you still survey it?
Yes. We inspect everything that’s safely in view and what you give us access to. Where a problem appears to be on next door’s side, we note it and you can raise it with them.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
Damp on a chimney breast usually means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped and records the likely cause.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. It is not a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
What do I do with the report?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. It’s yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
Nearby places to Frieth
What else we do in Frieth
Landlord and commercial surveys in Frieth
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Frieth. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run seven days a week, which can make access easier.
Tips from our surveys
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Check your stacks from ground level after strong winds
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
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 is easy to follow.
Get small mortar repairs done while they’re small. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- The size of the roof
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
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.
Helping us price your survey
Getting the details right at the start saves time. It helps to include:
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The property’s address and postcode
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. Otherwise, simply phone 07833 053749 or send us an email whenever suits you.
What a chimney survey looks like in Frieth
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. Historic houses such as West Wycombe Park House, about 3.2 miles north-east, show how far back building in the area around Frieth goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you live in an older home near Church of St John the Evangelist, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. If you let a flat or house near Marlow station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. Take a building like Frieth Church of England Combined School: large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Frieth is about 4 miles north-west of Marlow, in Oxfordshire. Houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings in Frieth can all book chimney surveys. Frieth is one of the places in Oxfordshire where we work. Reading is in our area too.
Every address in RG9 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Frieth Hill, Ellery Rise and Hayles Field or a nearby road, we can survey it. Other places close to Frieth include Little Frieth (1 mile north-west), Lane End (1 mile north-east), Bolter End (1 mile north), Fingest (1 mile north-west) and Cadmore End (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cover Thame (11 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (6 miles south-west), Benson (11 miles west), Chinnor (7 miles north), Tilehurst (13 miles south-west) and Wallingford (12 miles west).
Around Frieth
We work in homes and buildings around Yew Tree pub. The closest station to Frieth is Marlow station, about 4.3 miles south-east. Well-known places in the area include Chiltern Sound Phonograph Museum (3.9 miles south-east) and High Wycombe Castle (4.7 miles east). Not far away are Yoesden.
What happens on the day
There isn’t much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll take it from there. The survey itself takes between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Around Frieth, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We check every stack from wherever it can safely be seen.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, is emailed to you.
Before the survey
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
Booking a survey
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form, tell us about the property and we will explain which survey suits. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
Read more
Honest limits
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
If in doubt, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll suggest the right survey. What our survey covers.
What this survey covers
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
DIY checks: what’s safe
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from the ground and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, which helps when we check the roof.