Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Longcot, Oxfordshire
Independent chimney surveys in Longcot. We’ve completed more than 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Cracked or missing flaunching
Landlords, agents and block managers in Longcot
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
How a chimney survey works in Longcot
Each stack is looked at from the safest viewpoints available: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the roof space where it’s safe. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where applicable. Where part of a stack can’t be seen, the report says so. Every defect we find is photographed and described in plain words. We survey chimney breasts, flaunching and brick chimney stacks, and common reasons people get in touch are bricks with flaking faces and signs that a stack is leaning.
In a village or hamlet like Longcot, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Where
- Longcot (SN7)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Local roofs in Longcot
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. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Historic houses such as Buscot Park, about 4.1 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Longcot goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Anyone responsible for a site like Longcot and Fernham Church of England Primary School will know that large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Longcot is in Oxfordshire. Wherever you are in Longcot, we can carry out chimney surveys at your property. Longcot is one of the towns and villages in Oxfordshire where we work. There’s also a page for Oxford.
We work across SN7 for chimney surveys and the streets around it. We offer chimney surveys to properties on The Green, Church Close and Hughes Crescent and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Fernham (1 mile north-east), Little Coxwell (2 miles north), Great Coxwell (2 miles north), Woolstone (2 miles south-east) and Uffington (2 miles south-east). We also work in nearby towns such as Abingdon-on-Thames (15 miles east), Witney (13 miles north-east), Carterton (10 miles north), Wantage (8 miles east), Grove (8 miles east) and Faringdon (3 miles north).
Local landmarks in Longcot
Around Longcot, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Bricklayers Arms and Faringdon Community College. Well-known places in the area include Faringdon Day Hospital (2.9 miles north) and Uffington Museum (2.1 miles south-east). The countryside around Longcot includes Badbury Hill.
What this survey cannot tell you
Before you book, it’s worth knowing what a survey won’t do:
- The inside of the flue, which needs a sweep or flue specialist
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Hidden damage within the stack
If in doubt, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will recommend the right survey before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roofs we survey in Longcot
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
How it works
There is not much for you to do on the day. Point out anything you’ve noticed, like stains, drips or loose pieces, and we’ll take it from there. A typical survey takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Around Longcot, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- The stacks are looked at from ground level, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
Before we arrive
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
How to book
Prices start from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so phone 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.
Advice
Longcot questions
Do you cover Longcot?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Is Longcot within the area you cover?
Yes, Longcot is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
It’s worth having a leaning stack checked. We record the lean, the brickwork and the pointing, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
There is no single answer. The survey shows its condition and how it’s been capped. In a conservation area or on a listed building, changes may need consent.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. We look at the roof, not the whole building, so it’s not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. Many buyers have both.
Do you inspect the flue?
No. It is not a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We check the stack, pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings, and damp inside, and we’ll say if anything suggests the flue needs checking.
What happens next?
You’ll receive the report by email, and what you do next is up to you: use it with a seller, an insurer, a roofer or a managing agent.
When to book a survey in Longcot
Some owners book because a chimney breast has been removed below and they want to know about the stack above. We note what’s visible in the loft space and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
These are some of the problems a survey can pick up:
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- A chimney out of line
The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if you own one of the older houses nearby, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Before you book any roof surveyor
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What insurance they carry
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Places near Longcot
Also in Longcot
Tips from our surveys
A little preparation and a few simple habits help. Our tips:
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Check unused flues are capped with ventilation
- 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.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked, and moved if they’re working it loose. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book and it will help the survey.
You can learn a lot from the ground. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.