Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Lower Brailes
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Lower Brailes, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
Chimney survey in Lower Brailes: what you get
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and the flashings at the roof line. Inside, we check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft where it is safe to reach. You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. If you’ve noticed flashings pulling away from the stack and bricks with flaking faces, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Lower Brailes, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some 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.
Every survey ends with a written report, with photos, emailed to you. It sets out the condition of the chimney stack, any defects and our written recommendations.
- Place
- Lower Brailes (OX15)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Prices for chimney surveys in Lower Brailes
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Roof area
- Height and safe access
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
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.
Booking your survey
What helps most when you contact us:
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- The address and postcode of the property
- What kind of property and roof it is
Surveys can be booked for weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To arrange a day that suits you, phone 07833 053749 or email us.
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney pots and cowls
Damaged pots are a safety concern as well as a leak risk. We record their condition with photos.
Lead flashings
Where the chimney meets the roof slopes, lead flashings keep water out. We check for lifting, splits and gaps in the joints.
What happens on the day
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof, but as a rough guide the survey takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. You’re welcome to ask questions while we are there. Rural addresses near Lower Brailes can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
How to prepare
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it is shared
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
How to book
Our phone lines are open seven days a week. To book or ask a question, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Advice
Lower Brailes questions
Is Lower Brailes within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
How do I find out if my home in Lower Brailes is listed?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
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.
What insurance do you have?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
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.
How long is the visit?
Time on site depends on the roof, but most surveys take an hour or two at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. The report is sent afterwards by email.
How soon will I get the report?
The Premium Survey report comes the same day, the Standard within 24–48 hours and the Basic within 48 hours. Each one is emailed.
Checking the roof from ground level
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
Tips that help
A little preparation and a few simple habits help, both for the survey and for the roof itself. Some pointers:
- Check unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Find out whether changes to a stack need permission
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
Questions about the findings are always welcome. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one.
Keep an eye on chimney breasts for new damp patches. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
Nearby places to Lower Brailes
Also in Lower Brailes
What a chimney survey looks like in Lower Brailes
West Oxfordshire’s older buildings frequently 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. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out 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, ideally before any re-roofing is planned.
Anyone responsible for a site like Brailes CofE Primary School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St George, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Lower Brailes is about 8 miles west of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. We carry out chimney surveys in Lower Brailes for houses, flats, blocks and commercial buildings. Across Oxfordshire, we cover Lower Brailes and the places around it. For surveys nearby, see our Oxford page.
We work across OX15 for chimney surveys and the streets around it. We offer chimney surveys to properties on High Street, School Lane and Orchard Close. We also cover the places around Lower Brailes: Upper Brailes (1 mile north-west) and Sutton-under-Brailes (1 mile south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Banbury (8 miles east), Chipping Norton (8 miles south), Neithrop (8 miles east), Grimsbury (10 miles east), Ruscote (8 miles east) and Bloxham (8 miles east).
Near you in Lower Brailes
Around Lower Brailes, our work takes us to homes and buildings near George Hotel And Attached Carriage Entrance And Barn. Well-known places in the area include Ellen Badger Hospital (3.5 miles west). For a walk, there’s Castle Hill and Woodford Bottom and Lamb's Pool.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Lower Brailes
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out by urgency where it matters.
Landlords and letting agents in Lower Brailes book surveys as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the chimney stack, useful for planning maintenance.