Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Grimsbury Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching around Grimsbury, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- A chimney out of line
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
What a chimney survey looks like in Grimsbury
Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first. Broughton Castle, about 3.4 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Grimsbury. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs.
Take an older house close to Saint Leonard's Church: its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. If you look after a building such as St Leonard's Church of England Primary School, a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Grimsbury is about 1 mile east of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. Anywhere in Grimsbury, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Grimsbury is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover for chimney surveys. Our Oxford page covers surveys nearby.
Every address in OX16, OX17 and OX15 is within our area for chimney surveys. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Alma Road, Manor Road and Verney Road or a nearby road, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Banbury (1 mile west), Neithrop (2 miles west), Ruscote (2 miles west) and Bodicote (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Bicester (13 miles south-east), Bure Park (13 miles south-east), Chipping Norton (13 miles south-west), Woodstock (15 miles south), Bloxham (4 miles south-west) and Charlbury (15 miles south-west).
Around Grimsbury
Around Grimsbury, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Banbury Academy, The Pepper Pot pub and Ash-Shifa School, among other places. Grimsbury has its own railway station: Banbury station. Nearby you will also find Horton General Hospital (1 mile south-west) and Castle Quay Shopping Centre (0.5 miles west). For a walk, there is Crouch Hill and Farthinghoe Nature Reserve.
How a chimney survey works in Grimsbury
Chimney stacks take more weather than almost any other part of a house. Over the years, the flaunching cracks, the pointing wears and flashings lift. Water then gets into the stack and can show as damp on a chimney breast or a stain in the loft. A survey finds these problems and records them with photographs. If you’ve noticed a stack that appears to lean and disused chimneys trapping moisture, we can find out what’s behind it.
Trees around homes in smaller places like Grimsbury drop leaves, twigs and moss onto roofs and into gutters. Blocked gutters overflow and soak the walls below. It’s the kind of slow problem a roof report picks up early. Plants growing from a gutter or moss on the tiles are signs worth noting from the ground.
It is not only a list of defects. It explains what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, so you can decide what to do next.
- Place
- Grimsbury (OX16, OX17, OX15)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Why get it checked now?
Chimneys are easy to forget because you rarely see the top of them. Problems often go unnoticed until damp appears inside. A survey gives you a clear picture before that happens. Around Grimsbury, a leak in an older house can soak into timbers and plaster, and that is a much bigger job than the original defect.
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Why book us in Grimsbury
- Every finding written up with photos
- Drone flown under a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Prices that include VAT
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and our case studies.
When to book a survey in Grimsbury
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We note what’s visible in the roof space and outside, and recommend a structural engineer where support is in question.
Most people get in touch when they’ve noticed something like this:
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- A chimney out of line
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
For landlords with property near Banbury station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- What happens after the report arrives
- What the report includes, and whether it has photographs
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
How the survey works
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. Most surveys take about 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. A visit to a smaller place like Grimsbury is no different on the day: we look from the ground, from windows, from the loft and from the roof where it’s safe. Point out any stains, cracks or loose pieces you’ve spotted.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before we arrive
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Arrange a survey
When you’re ready to go ahead, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.
Advice
What else we do in Grimsbury
What this survey cannot tell you
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Bear these in mind:
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will recommend the right survey. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Grimsbury
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
Your questions about chimney surveys in Grimsbury
How do I find out if my home in Grimsbury is listed?
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.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Banbury station?
Yes, landlords and agents are among the people we work for. Just call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Do you inspect the flue?
No. We survey the stack and its weathering, not the flue. For the flue, you will need a sweep or, for gas, a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Do you need to go on the roof to check the chimney?
Each stack is viewed from the safest viewpoints: from the ground, windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there is access. A drone inspection is included in our Premium Survey where applicable. If part of a stack can’t be seen, the report says so.
How soon will I get the report?
Report times are set by the package. Basic is within 48 hours, Standard is 24–48 hours and Premium is the same day. If you have a deadline, such as an exchange date, let us know as you book.
How much does a chimney survey cost in Grimsbury?
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on its size, height, access and the package, confirmed before anything is booked.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain doesn’t usually stop a survey. High wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we will arrange another day with you.
Useful tips for Grimsbury property owners
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week, before and after a survey:
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Check your stacks from the ground after strong winds
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
If the report recommends a structural engineer, a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer, it will say why. It gives them a clear starting point.
Look at your chimneys from ground level now and then, particularly after strong winds. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.
Landlord and commercial surveys in Grimsbury
Managing agents and residents’ management companies use roof surveys to plan maintenance. The report sets out what needs attention now and what can wait, which helps when budgeting.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. We survey on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which can make access easier.