Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Shellingford Chimney Survey
Find out what’s going on with the chimney stack before you decide what to do next. We carry out chimney surveys in Shellingford, with photos and a clear written report.
- A chimney out of line
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
Chimney survey in Shellingford: what you get
Damp on a chimney breast can have several causes. Water may be getting in at the top through cracked flaunching or an uncapped pot, through the brickwork, or at the flashings. Moisture trapped inside a stack with no ventilation can also cause damp. We check each possibility and record what we find. That points the work in the right direction. Typical surveys look at bricks with flaking faces and a chimney out of line, across flaunching, brick chimney stacks and shared and party-wall stacks.
Somewhere as small as Shellingford, homes are often older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are frequently old. We report on whatever is safely visible, and thatch is a specialist material. 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 is said too.
- Where
- Shellingford (SN7)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Tips from our surveys
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- File photos of the stacks with your home records
- Make sure fixings on the stack are secure
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
You get the report by email and can pass it to whoever does the work. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo, so it is easy to follow.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
What else we do in Shellingford
What we look for on each type of roof
Brick stacks
Spalled bricks, where the face has flaked off, are a sign of water and frost. We record any we can see.
Flaunching
Flaunching is the mortar on top of a stack that holds the pots and sheds water. Once it cracks, water can get straight into the brickwork.
Chimney surveys around Shellingford
Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. The council is the place to check, along with Historic England’s list. West Oxfordshire’s older buildings often 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. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
Anyone responsible for a site like Shellingford Church of England (Voluntary Aided) School will know that its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale. Take an older house close to Church of St Faith: the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Shellingford is about 6 miles north-west of Wantage, in Oxfordshire. Shellingford gets the same service as everywhere else we work: a careful inspection, photos and a written report. Shellingford is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover for chimney surveys. We also survey roofs in Oxford.
We survey roofs across SN7 for chimney surveys and the streets around it. Local streets include Church Street and Fernham Road, all of which we cover. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Stanford in the Vale (1 mile east), Hatford (2 miles north-east), Baulking (2 miles south), Bow (2 miles east) and Fernham (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (15 miles north-east), Didcot (13 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (11 miles east), Witney (10 miles north), Carterton (9 miles north) and Wantage (6 miles south-east).
Landmarks near Shellingford
Typical jobs here are in homes near Faringdon Community College, among other places. Other landmarks nearby include Faringdon Castle (1.9 miles north-west) and Faringdon Museum (2.2 miles north-west). Not far away are Badbury Hill.
How we price chimney surveys
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
- Whether you choose the Basic, Standard or Premium Survey
- The roof’s overall size
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, with VAT included. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Booking your survey
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- The type of building and roof, like pitched or flat
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
- Any deadline, like an exchange date
Unsure which package suits your roof? The easiest way is to phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.
What happens if roof problems are left?
A damp chimney breast seldom dries out until the cause is found. It can stain walls and damage plaster. Finding the cause means the right work can be planned. Outbuildings and barns around Shellingford are easy to forget, but a failed roof there can spoil what’s stored inside. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, from £400 inc. VAT. We will tell you which package suits the questions you have.
What you get with us
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- PI and public liability insurance
- A report with photographs
Take a look at our cost guide or what we found on two real jobs.
How it works
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 1–2 hours at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. For a village or hamlet like Shellingford, the journey is planned in advance: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. The roof is looked at from the ground, from windows, from the loft where there is safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Before the survey
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
- Make a note of anything you’d like us to look at
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
Booking a survey
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form to find out.
Advice
Can I check my roof myself?
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Common questions in Shellingford
Do you cover Shellingford?
Yes. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and Shellingford is part of that. You can call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
How do I find out if my home in Shellingford is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drone flights need calm, dry weather, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. We will rearrange with you if the weather is not right.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
It can come from several places: cracked flaunching, worn pointing, failed flashings, uncapped pots, or damp trapped in an unventilated stack. We look at each one and note the most likely cause.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not unless it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the roof space and a drone where it applies cover most of what’s needed.
What does a roof survey cost?
Our price is from £150, including VAT. We confirm the exact price before you book, based on the roof’s size, access and package. To get a price, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
How experienced are you?
We have completed more than 5,000 surveys, across 20+ years of surveying roofs, and 98% of clients are satisfied.