Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Rowstock
Independent chimney surveys in Rowstock. More than 5,000 surveys completed across London and South East England.
- Worn or missing pointing
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Bricks with flaking faces
What we look for on each type of roof
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.
Flaunching
Flaunching is the mortar on top of a stack that holds the pots and sheds water. Cracks in it let water into the stack.
Chimney survey in Rowstock: what you get
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We check what can be seen safely and what the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it, so you can talk to them. You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations. Common reasons to book are lifted or split lead flashings and bricks with flaking faces, across chimney breasts, flaunching and lead flashings.
In a village or hamlet like Rowstock, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently 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.
Nothing in the report is left vague: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Place
- Rowstock (OX11)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Towns and villages near Rowstock
Other services in Rowstock
Leave it or get it looked at?
If you are thinking of removing or reducing a stack, it’s useful to know its condition first. Changes to stacks in conservation areas or on listed buildings may need consent, so check with them first. Older and listed buildings around Rowstock may need consent and matching materials for repairs, so a defect found early gives time to plan the work properly.
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the written report is part of the package. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Size, height and access decide where your roof falls.
What you get with us
- An independent look at the roof
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- 20+ years’ experience
- A written report with photos
See our cost guide or two real surveys.
Can I check my roof myself?
What you cannot do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and a fall can be serious. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You will not see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
What we do, step by step
There is not much for you to do on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we’ll get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes about one to two hours on an ordinary house; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. For a village or hamlet like Rowstock, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- We look at every stack from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
How to prepare
- Find any records of previous roof work
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Arrange a survey
Booking is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email, let us know about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Related advice
Rowstock homes and their roofs
Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. Re-roofing in different materials may need permission there. Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. 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.
Landlords with a home close to Didcot Parkway station may find that a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. Take an older house close to Church of St Matthew: the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. Anyone responsible for a site like Harwell Primary School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Rowstock is about 3 miles west of Didcot, in Oxfordshire. Rowstock is one of many places we visit across Oxfordshire. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire, large and small. We also survey roofs in Oxford.
We work across OX11 for chimney surveys. We cover properties on Tudor Walk, Wantage Road and Reading Road and the roads around them. We also cover the places around Rowstock: East Hendred (1 mile west), West Hendred (2 miles west), Ardington (3 miles west), East Lockinge (3 miles west) and West Ilsley (4 miles south). Further out, we also cover Oxford (11 miles north), Didcot (3 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (5 miles north), Witney (15 miles north-west), Wantage (5 miles west) and Grove (5 miles west).
Local landmarks in Rowstock
Around Rowstock, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Old Chequers pub and UTC Oxfordshire and the streets around them. The closest station to Rowstock is Didcot Parkway station, roughly 3 miles east. Nearby you’ll also find Atlas Computer Laboratory (1.7 miles south) and Abingdon Community Hospital (4.9 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Mowbray Fields and Churn Hill.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Rowstock
I let a flat near Didcot Parkway station. Can you check the roof?
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.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Rowstock?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We look at the parts we are given access to, and the report makes that clear.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t sample or test for asbestos. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000, with a recommendation to have a specialist asbestos surveyor check before it is disturbed.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
We survey on any day from Monday to Sunday, during the day. Let us know your preferred days when you book.
How do I book a survey in Rowstock?
It’s easiest to ring 07833 053749 or email us. Give us the address and a few details about the roof, and we will take it from there. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
Damp on a chimney breast usually means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped and records the likely cause.
When you need someone else
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Rowstock
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
How we price chimney surveys
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- How big the roof is
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
One thing that affects the price is the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Getting in touch
These details help when you get in touch:
- Your timetable, like an exchange date
- Any stains, drips or damp patches you’ve seen indoors
- The address and postcode of the property
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
If you are buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you are ready.