Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Hardwick, Oxfordshire
A careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Hardwick, and put it all in a written report with photos.
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Worn or missing pointing
Chimney survey in Hardwick: what you get
Each stack is looked at from the safest viewpoints available: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, and from the loft where there is access. With our Premium Survey, a drone inspection is included where applicable. Where part of a stack can’t be seen, the report says so. Each defect is recorded with a photo and a plain description. Common reasons to book are gaps where the stack meets the roof and a chimney out of line, on chimney pots and cowls, chimney breasts and brick chimney stacks.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. 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.
- Where
- Hardwick (OX27)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Before and after the survey
Some practical points come up on survey after survey. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
Where another specialist is needed, such as a structural engineer or sweep, we explain why. It gives them a clear starting point.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. Early signs are easier to trace.
Different roofs, different checks
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. We photograph any we find that look loose or damaged.
Chimney pots and cowls
Damaged pots are a safety concern as well as a leak risk. We record their condition with photographs.
Why get it checked now?
Most people never get a careful look at their chimney stacks. Defects tend to go unseen until there is a stain. A survey gives you a clear picture before that happens. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Hardwick, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both inc. VAT. We confirm the price for your survey before booking.
Why book us in Hardwick
- 20+ years’ experience
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- An independent look at the roof
- Surveys on any day of the week
Take a look at our cost guide or what we found on two real jobs.
The survey, step by step
Photos are taken throughout the visit, so the report shows exactly what we saw. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes an hour or two on an ordinary house, and longer for a large or complex roof. In a hamlet or village like Hardwick, a postcode does not always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach them.
- You get a written report with photos and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- For flats, make sure roof access has been agreed
Book a survey
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or email us and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We’ll talk you through the options and what they cost.
Related advice
Nearby places to Hardwick
Other services in Hardwick
Your questions about chimney surveys in Hardwick
Can a landlord with a rental near Bicester North station book a roof survey?
Yes, that is a common request. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Hardwick?
Start with Historic England’s list for listing and your council for conservation areas. Either can affect what roof work is allowed, so it is worth checking before planning any.
Do you inspect shared chimneys?
Yes. Many houses share stacks with a neighbour. We survey what we can see safely, and note anything that seems to involve next door.
How do I arrange a chimney survey in Hardwick?
The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Give us the address and some details about the roof. Surveys run seven days a week.
Will you walk on the roof?
Only if it’s safe. We inspect everything that’s safely in view: from ground level, from windows, from inside the loft space, from the roof where it is safe and by drone where it applies. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
There’s no single answer. We record how the stack is doing and whether it’s capped with ventilation. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need consent.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Visits run seven days a week in the daytime, which suits people who work during the week. Let us know your preferred days as you book.
Chimney surveys in Hardwick: local notes
Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. What can be done to an older roof may depend on listing or a conservation area. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand.
If you let a flat or house near Bicester North station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Mary, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Hardwick is about 4 miles north of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. Anywhere in Hardwick, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. Across Oxfordshire, we cover Hardwick. Oxford is in our area too.
Every address in OX27 is covered for chimney surveys. If you’re just outside Hardwick, we cover Hethe (1 mile east), Stoke Lyne (1 mile south-west), Fringford (2 miles east), Bucknell (3 miles south-west) and Stratton Audley (3 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Oxford (15 miles south), Banbury (10 miles north-west), Bicester (4 miles south), Kidlington (11 miles south-west), Headington Quarry (14 miles south) and Bure Park (4 miles south).
What’s near Hardwick
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Whitmore Arms Public House. Hardwick’s nearest station is Bicester North station, about 4.2 miles south. Nearby you’ll also find Ardley Castle (2.8 miles south-west) and Bicester Community Hospital (4.6 miles south).
Should I look at the roof myself first?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. From the ground, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
It is useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
Honest limits
We only report what can safely be seen on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Lead flashings
- Flaunching