Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Radley Chimney Survey
Wondering about the chimney stack at a property in Radley? We carry out chimney surveys in Radley and across Oxfordshire.
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
When you need someone else
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Conditions inside walls
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Whether the flue is safe to use
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
Chimney survey in Radley
Our chimney survey covers the stack and the details that keep water out around it: the pots and cowls, the flaunching on top, the pointing, the brickwork and the flashings where it meets the roof. Inside, we check chimney breasts and the stack in the loft where it’s safe to reach. You get a report with photos and our recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. We’re often asked to look into eroded joints in the brickwork and disused chimneys trapping moisture, on flaunching, brick chimney stacks and lead flashings.
Older buildings in small places like Radley may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
The report doesn’t just list problems. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Location
- Radley (OX14)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near Radley
Other services in Radley
Common roof problems in Radley
Flaunching is the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the top. Once it cracks, water gets in and frost makes the cracks bigger. Loose pots can follow.
Here are some of the things we see frequently:
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Bricks with flaking faces
- A stack that appears to lean
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
Take an older house close to Church of St James: old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- Their track record with similar roofs
- Are they insured for the work?
Your questions about chimney surveys in Radley
Is my home in Radley listed or in a conservation area?
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 survey roofs for landlords with property near Radley station?
Of course. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Do you test for asbestos?
No. Our report may flag materials that could contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
How do I book a survey in Radley?
To book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and let us know the address and what you want to find out. We’ll confirm the price and find a day that suits.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. An outside-only look can be arranged beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
What do I do with the report?
You receive the written report by email, with photos and recommendations. It is yours to share with a seller, insurer, roofer or managing agent, whichever applies.
When does the report arrive?
It depends on the package: the Basic Survey report arrives within 48 hours, the Standard Survey in 24 to 48 hours and the Premium Survey the same day. The report is emailed to you.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Radley
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Bigger roofs take more time, so they’re priced to suit.
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you contact us and we’ll plan the visit with that in mind.
Tips that help
There is plenty you can do without going near the roof. What helps most:
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Photograph damp patches with the date
Once we’ve been, the findings are written up with photos. It explains the condition of each part of the stack and any damp inside. Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24 to 48 hours and Premium reports the same day.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. It is far simpler than rebuilding a stack later.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
What happens on the day
After the inspection, everything we found is written up as a photo-illustrated written report, emailed to you. As for time on site, it usually takes about 1–2 hours for a house, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Older rural homes like those around Radley can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- First we talk through the stacks, their history and any problems.
- We check every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- Pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- The report, with photos and recommendations, is emailed to you.
How to prepare
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Make sure the loft hatch can be reached
Arrange a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can phone 07833 053749 or email us to find out.
Related advice
Chimney surveys around Radley
The wider area around Radley has a long history of building, with Clifton Hampden Manor about 2.7 miles south-east. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. West Oxfordshire’s older buildings often carry Cotswold stone slates, and a few villages in the county keep their thatch. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
Anyone responsible for a site like Radley Church of England Primary School will know that long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle. If you run a business near Templars Square, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies.
Radley is about 2 miles north-east of Abingdon-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire. From houses to flats and shops in Radley, we can survey the roof. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire, large and small.
All of OX14 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Church Road, Selwyn Crescent and Ferny Close and the roads around them. Other places close to Radley include Abingdon-on-Thames (2 miles south-west), Nuneham Courtenay (2 miles east), Culham (2 miles south), Clifton Hampden (3 miles south-east) and Caldecott (3 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Oxford (4 miles north), Didcot (5 miles south), Bicester (15 miles north), Witney (13 miles north-west), Thame (12 miles east) and Wantage (10 miles south-west).
Near you in Radley
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Nuneham Courtenay, Fitzharrys School and Bowyer Arms and the streets around them. Radley has its own railway station: Radley station. A little further out are Littlemore Hospital (2.3 miles north) and FitzHarris Castle (1.8 miles south-west). Not far away are Harcourt Hill and Dry Sandford Pit.