Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Shepherd's Green
Chimney surveys in Shepherd's Green from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us across London and South East England.
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
Common roof problems in Shepherd's Green
Where a chimney meets the roof, lead flashings keep water out. With age they can lift, split or come away from the joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead flashings can also be stolen.
Look out for signs like these:
- Flaunching that has broken away
- A stack that appears to lean
- Worn or missing pointing
- Bricks with flaking faces
If you let a flat or house near Henley-On-Thames station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Before booking any roof surveyor
- How they plan to inspect the roof safely
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- What happens after the report arrives
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Shepherd's Green
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. You then know where to start. If you’ve noticed gaps in the mortar around the pots and loose, cracked or missing pots, we can find out what’s behind it, whatever the roof.
Somewhere as small as Shepherd's Green, 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 often old. 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 frequently need the most attention.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: your solicitor, the seller, your insurer, a roofer or the building’s managing agent, whichever applies.
- Place
- Shepherd's Green (RG9)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for Shepherd's Green
Is Shepherd's Green within the area you cover?
Yes. Shepherd's Green is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route when booking.
How do I find out if my home in Shepherd's Green is listed?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
How do I book a survey in Shepherd's Green?
It is easiest to phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form. Tell us the address and a little about the roof. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
We look from ground level, from windows and from the loft where it is safe. A drone inspection is part of the Premium Survey where applicable. The report is clear about anything that couldn’t be seen.
What do you check on a chimney?
We check the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings. Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. You get a written report with photos.
Will I get photos?
Yes, plenty. Pictures sit next to the findings they show, so you can see what we mean.
What happens after the survey?
You will get the report by email, with photos and clear recommendations. With Standard there’s a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation.
How the survey changes by roof type
Chimney breasts and the loft
Inside, chimney breasts can show damp when water gets into the stack. We check them and at the stack in the loft where there’s safe access.
Lead flashings
Some older stacks have mortar fillets instead of lead. They tend to crack, so we look at them closely.
Can I check my roof myself?
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.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Shepherd's Green
The wider area around Shepherd's Green has a long history of building, with Greys Court about 0.7 miles east. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of St Nicholas, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. Anyone responsible for a site like Peppard Church of England Primary School will know that large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Shepherd's Green is about 5 miles north of Caversham, in Oxfordshire. Wherever you are in Shepherd's Green, we can come and survey your property. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire. You can also see our page for Reading.
Surveys in RG9 are booked the same way as anywhere else. You will find streets such as Shepherds Green and Satwell Close, and we cover them all. Close by, we survey roofs in Rotherfield Peppard (1 mile south), Highmoor Cross (1 mile north-west), Kingwood Common (1 mile south-west), Peppard Hill (1 mile south-west) and Highmoor (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Didcot (13 miles west), Thame (14 miles north), Henley-on-Thames (3 miles east), Benson (8 miles north-west), Chinnor (11 miles north) and Tilehurst (6 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Shepherd's Green
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge and The Lamb pub, among other places. Shepherd's Green’s nearest station is Henley-On-Thames station, roughly 3.2 miles east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Frazer Nash Archives (3.4 miles east) and Battle Hospital (6 miles south). Open spaces near Shepherd's Green include Warburg Nature Reserve.
Towns and villages near Shepherd's Green
More services for Shepherd's Green
Before and after the survey
Getting the most from a chimney survey starts before we arrive and carries on afterwards. Tips:
- Check your stacks from the ground after strong winds
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
Many people use the report to get quotes for the work. Because everyone is pricing the same findings, the quotes are easier to compare.
Get small mortar repairs done while they’re small. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
- Parts of the stack that can’t be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we can’t access
- Hidden damage within the stack
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
What we look at
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
The survey, step by step
Once we have finished looking, we write up our findings in a report with photographs. On timing, most surveys take about 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Somewhere as small as Shepherd's Green, access is often the only tricky part. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Booking a survey
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and what’s worrying you. We will talk you through the options and what they cost.