Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Shiplake, Oxfordshire
Not sure what state the chimney stack is in? You can book a chimney survey in Shiplake and across Oxfordshire.
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Bricks with flaking faces
FAQs for Shiplake
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Wargrave station?
Yes, that is a common request. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
Is Shiplake within the area you cover?
Yes. Shiplake is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We note visible signs like sagging or deflection, but we don’t carry out calculations or give an engineer’s opinion. Where an engineer is needed, we say so in the report.
I live in a flat. Can you survey the roof?
Yes, once whoever controls the roof agrees access. We check the parts we are given access to.
Do I need to be at home?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the roof space, someone has to give us access; we’ll agree the details when you book.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not always. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. We use safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where it applies.
Can you survey a chimney stack we share with next door?
Yes. We look at the parts we can see safely and the parts you can give us access to. If a defect seems to be on your neighbour’s side, the report records it and you can raise it with them.
Chimney survey in Shiplake
We inspect chimneys from wherever they can be seen safely: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the roof space where it’s safe. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where applicable. If we can’t see part of the stack, the report makes that clear. Every defect we find is photographed and described in plain words. Typical surveys look at staining on walls around the chimney and unused flues sealed without airflow, across lead flashings, shared and party-wall stacks and flaunching.
In a small place like Shiplake, many roofs stand in the open, which is hard on ridges, chimneys, flashings and gutters. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. A written report sets out what to deal with and in what order. On exposed older roofs, chimneys and lead flashings are often the first to give way.
Pictures do a lot of the work in our reports, so you can see each defect rather than just read about it. Anything out of sight on the day is listed as such.
- Location
- Shiplake (RG9)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Flaunching
Sitting at the very top, flaunching is fully exposed. We look for cracks, gaps around the pots and missing pieces.
Rendered stacks
We cannot see the bricks behind render without it being opened up, so the report explains what we could and couldn’t assess.
DIY checks: what’s safe
Your own check is a good start, but it isn’t a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are often out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
You can learn a lot from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Honest limits
In fairness, a roof survey has limits:
- What’s inside the brickwork or behind render, without opening up
- Structural calculations for a leaning stack
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What we check
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
Local roofs in Shiplake
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. 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. Greys Court, about 4.1 miles north-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Shiplake. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you look after a building such as Shiplake Church of England School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other. If yours is one of the older homes in the streets near Church of St Peter and St Paul, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Shiplake is about 3 miles north of Woodley, in Oxfordshire. We provide chimney surveys for homeowners, landlords and businesses in Shiplake and nearby. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire.
Chimney surveys in RG9 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Nearby, we also carry out chimney surveys in Charvil (2 miles south), Twyford (2 miles south-east), Ruscombe (2 miles south-east), Hare Hatch (2 miles east) and The Holt (3 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Benson (12 miles north-west), Chinnor (14 miles north), Tilehurst (7 miles south-west), Wallingford (12 miles north-west), Little Heath (7 miles west) and Oakley (14 miles north).
Around Shiplake
In Shiplake, that means homes and buildings near The Plough pub, Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School and Loddon Nature Reserve, among other places. The nearest railway station is Wargrave station, roughly 0.9 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Royal Berkshire Hospital (4.2 miles south-west) and Frazer Nash Archives (2.1 miles north). Open spaces near Shiplake include South Lake and Sonning Hill.
Places near Shiplake
Other services in Shiplake
What we do, step by step
When we arrive, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you’d like to know. After that, we look at everything we can see safely. The survey usually takes roughly 1–2 hours for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Rural addresses near Shiplake can be hard to find from a postcode alone, so a few directions, or a note of a nearby landmark, help us arrive on time. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- Every part we can see is looked at: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- 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.
Preparing for the visit
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Show us where any leaks or stains appear
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
Getting a price
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just call 07833 053749 or send us an email when you are ready.
Related advice
Common roof problems in Shiplake
Chimney stacks stand above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. Frost opens up cracks in the mortar, and rain gets into worn bricks and joints. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
It’s worth booking a survey if you’ve seen:
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- A chimney out of line
Landlords with a home close to Wargrave station may find that knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Before you book anyone
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- Will the report include photos?
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
Why act early in Shiplake
A loose pot or brick can fall from height. A survey picks them out so they can be made safe by a suitable contractor. Around Shiplake, older homes often have old roof timbers, and water through a failed covering can rot timber if it is left.
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and a few details. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Shiplake
- Surveys on weekdays and at weekends
- A written report with photos
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.