Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Shiplake Cross, Oxfordshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Shiplake Cross, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photographs.
- A stack that appears to lean
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Worn or missing pointing
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Shiplake Cross. For a price for a let property or a block, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Chimney survey in Shiplake Cross
Redundant chimneys are common, especially where fires have been replaced by central heating. A disused stack still needs looking after. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. We survey chimney breasts, flaunching and shared and party-wall stacks, and people most often book us about flashings pulling away from the stack and mortar washing out of the joints.
In a village or hamlet like Shiplake Cross, older cottages and farmhouses often 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. On older roofs, it is normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Where
- Shiplake Cross (RG9)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Shiplake Cross
Other services in Shiplake Cross
Roof by roof
Flaunching
Flaunching takes the worst of the weather. We look for cracks, gaps around the pots and missing pieces.
Lead flashings
Over time, lead can lift or come away from the brickwork. Any loose or split flashings are recorded.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Shiplake Cross
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. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. About 3.8 miles north-west lies Greys Court, a reminder of how long the area around Shiplake Cross has been built on. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
Take an older house close to Church of St Peter and St Paul: its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. If you own a rental within reach of Shiplake station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Shiplake Cross is about 3 miles north-east of Caversham, in Oxfordshire. We provide chimney surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Shiplake Cross and the surrounding area. Across Oxfordshire, we cover Shiplake Cross.
Chimney surveys in RG9 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Memorial Avenue, Plowden Way and Orchard Close. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Binfield Heath (1 mile west), Harpsden (1 mile north), Harpsden Bottom (2 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (2 miles north) and Sonning Common (4 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Benson (12 miles north-west), Chinnor (14 miles north), Tilehurst (6 miles south-west), Wallingford (12 miles north-west), Little Heath (7 miles south-west) and Oakley (14 miles north).
Local landmarks in Shiplake Cross
In Shiplake Cross, that means homes and buildings near The Plough pub, The Piggott School and Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School, among other places. The closest station to Shiplake Cross is Shiplake station, roughly 1.1 miles north-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Royal Berkshire Hospital (4.3 miles south-west) and Frazer Nash Archives (2 miles north). The countryside around Shiplake Cross includes Sonning Hill and South Lake.
Shiplake Cross questions
Is my home in Shiplake Cross listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Do you cover smaller places like Shiplake Cross?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
Is it a structural engineer’s report?
No. We are experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but we don’t provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. If one is needed, the report says so.
Does the report include photos?
Yes. The report includes photos of what we found, so you can see each point for yourself.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that beforehand, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
How quickly is the report sent?
That depends on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. Reports are sent by email.
How it works
Time on site depends on the size and shape of the roof; as a rough guide, the survey takes about 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. Around Shiplake Cross, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- 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.
Getting ready for the survey
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Book a survey
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and give us some details about the property and we will suggest the right survey. The price is agreed up front.
Related advice
When to book a survey in Shiplake Cross
A stack takes the weather from every direction. Frost works into cracks in the flaunching and pointing, and rain soaks into worn brickwork. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- A chimney out of line
Anyone responsible for a site like Shiplake Church of England School will know that large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Before booking anyone
- What insurance they carry
- What they will not be able to tell you
- Whether VAT is added on top
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
Leave it or get it looked at?
Loose pots and bricks on a stack are a safety concern. A survey picks them out so they can be made safe by a suitable contractor. Around Shiplake Cross, older homes often have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
One thing that affects the price is the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, inc. VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
What you get with us
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
- Visits on any day of the week
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
Read what a roof survey costs and two real surveys.
What you can safely check yourself
During heavy rain, look at the gutters from ground level or a window. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
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.