Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Sandford-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
An experienced roof surveyor for chimney surveys in Sandford-on-Thames. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys across London and South East England.
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Staining on walls around the chimney
How a chimney survey works in Sandford-on-Thames
A chimney survey looks at the stack and everything 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 is safe to reach. The findings come in a written report with photos and recommendations. It suits a single stack on a house as well as several on a larger building. We survey flaunching, shared and party-wall stacks and lead flashings, and people most often book us about bricks with flaking faces and a chimney out of line.
Older buildings in small places like Sandford-on-Thames 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 like clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
You can share the report with anyone who needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent.
- Where
- Sandford-on-Thames (OX4)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Sandford-on-Thames questions
Will you come out to Sandford-on-Thames?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Radley station?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can phone 07833 053749 or email us with the address and a few details, including who will give access on the day.
Do you need to go on the roof to check the chimney?
We use safe viewpoints rather than climbing onto the stack. Where it applies, our Premium Survey adds a drone inspection for a closer view. Any area we couldn’t view is noted.
Will you check the loft?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement, as far as the space allows.
How long is the visit?
That depends on the size and shape of the roof, but most surveys take between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. The written report follows by email.
What happens after the survey?
The report arrives by email. With Standard there is a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only when it is safe. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. We use safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable.
What happens on the day
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. In a hamlet or village like Sandford-on-Thames, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. The visit itself is the same as anywhere else.
- 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.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before the survey
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
Getting a price
When you’re ready to go ahead, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. From there it is a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day.
Read more
Can I check my roof myself?
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.
You can learn a lot from the ground. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Before and after the survey
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
- Ask about consent before removing a chimney on an older property
With a shared stack, the report can help when talking to next door. The photos show the problem and which side it’s on from the viewpoints we used.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
What we’re asked to look at in Sandford-on-Thames
Where a chimney meets the roof, lead flashings keep water out. With age they can lift, split or come away from the joints. When flashings fail, water often shows up in the loft or on the chimney breast. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Lifted or split lead flashings
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near Templars Square, knowing the roof’s condition lets you budget for work rather than pay for emergencies.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- Is VAT included in the price?
- How soon the report will arrive
- What follow-up you get after the report
How we price chimney surveys
Not every roof costs the same to survey, for these reasons:
- How tall the building is and how easy the roof is to see
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
A Basic Survey starts from £150, with VAT included. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both including VAT. You will know the price for your survey before booking.
Booking your survey
When you call or email, these details help:
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- The address and postcode of the property
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
To book a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. We will confirm the price before booking.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Sandford-on-Thames
Older buildings in west Oxfordshire frequently have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. The wider area around Sandford-on-Thames has a long history of building, with Garsington Manor about 2.9 miles east. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
For site and facilities teams at buildings such as John Henry Newman Academy, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale. If you live in an older home near Church of St Andrew, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs.
Sandford-on-Thames is about 3 miles south of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. Wherever you are in Sandford-on-Thames, we can carry out chimney surveys at your property. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire.
All of OX4 is covered for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Whether your property is on Church Road, Rock Farm Lane and Keene Close or a nearby road, we can survey it. If you are just outside Sandford-on-Thames, we cover Littlemore (1 mile north), Kennington (1 mile west), Blackbird Leys (1 mile north-east), Iffley (1 mile north) and Cowley (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Oxford (3 miles north), Didcot (7 miles south), Bicester (13 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (3 miles south-west), Witney (13 miles north-west) and Thame (11 miles east).
Landmarks near Sandford-on-Thames
Around Sandford-on-Thames, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Oxford Academy, Emmanuel Christian School and The Catherine Wheel pub. For rail, the closest station is Radley station, roughly 2 miles south. Nearby you will also find British Tattoo History Museum (2 miles north) and Oxford Castle and earlier settlement remains (3.1 miles north-west). For a walk, there’s CS Lewis Nature Reserve and Headington Hill.
For landlords and managing agents
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer.
Landlords, agents and building managers in Sandford-on-Thames and across Oxfordshire can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.