Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Fringford, Oxfordshire
We take a careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Fringford, with photos and a written report.
- A chimney out of line
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Bricks with flaking faces
About our chimney survey in Fringford
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. Even when it is not used, a stack has to stay weathertight. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. Common reasons to book are mortar washing out of the joints and cracked or missing flaunching, across brick chimney stacks, flaunching and chimney breasts.
In a village or hamlet like Fringford, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it is normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
If any part of the chimney stack couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Where
- Fringford (OX27)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How we price chimney surveys
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- Roof area
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Height and safe access
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how safely it can be seen. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT.
What we need to know
To price your survey accurately, we’ll ask about:
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- When you need the report by
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- Where the property is, with the postcode
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Common questions in Fringford
I let a flat near Bicester North station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details, and we will talk through which survey suits.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Fringford?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once access has been agreed. The roof of a block or converted house is frequently shared, so we need permission from the freeholder or managing agent. We inspect only the parts we’re allowed to reach.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
How much is a survey?
Prices start from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the price for your roof before booking, and it depends on the roof’s size, access and the package you choose. To get a price, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Which days do you carry out surveys?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day, which suits people who work during the week. Just say which days work for you.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
Common roof problems in Fringford
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.
Most people get in touch after spotting one of these:
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Signs that a stack is leaning
If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Michael and All Angels, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- Their report turnaround times
How the survey works
Once we’ve finished looking, we write up our findings as a written report with photos, sent to you by email. On timing, most surveys take between one and two hours for most houses, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Older roofs in small places like Fringford can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it is safe.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We check the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Getting ready for the survey
- Let us know where we can park nearby
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we are looking at
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Getting a price
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To find a date that works for you, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Advice
Landlords, agents and block managers in Fringford
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Bigger roofs take more time, and they’re priced for the size.
Landlords and letting agents in Fringford book surveys as well as homeowners. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the chimney stack, useful for planning maintenance.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney breasts and the loft
Stains on timbers or brickwork around the stack can point to a leak. We record what we see with photos.
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.
Towns and villages near Fringford
Other services in Fringford
Local roofs in Fringford
West Oxfordshire’s older buildings often carry Cotswold stone slates, and a few villages in the county keep their thatch. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. If your home is older, it’s worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area.
Landlords with a home close to Bicester North station may find that a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak. Take a building like Fringford Church of England Primary School: its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Fringford is about 4 miles north of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. We survey roofs in Fringford and the rest of Oxfordshire. Our Oxfordshire coverage includes Fringford and the places around it. Our Oxford page covers surveys nearby.
We cover every part of OX27 for chimney surveys. Streets in the area include Main Street, Crosslands and Church Close, all of which we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Hethe (1 mile north-west), Stratton Audley (2 miles south), Hardwick (2 miles west), Stoke Lyne (2 miles west) and Caversfield (3 miles south-west). Further out, we also cover Oxford (15 miles south), Banbury (12 miles north-west), Bicester (4 miles south), Kidlington (12 miles south-west), Headington Quarry (14 miles south) and Bure Park (4 miles south-west).
What’s near Fringford
In Fringford, that means homes and buildings near Whitmore Arms Public House, among other places. Fringford’s nearest station is Bicester North station, roughly 3.8 miles south of the centre. A little further out are Beaumont Castle (3.2 miles north) and Bicester Community Hospital (4.4 miles south).
When you need someone else
No survey can tell you everything, and it’s better to know them up front. Keep these in mind:
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- A structural engineer’s assessment
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll point you to the right survey. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings