Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Shipton-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire
Know where you stand with the chimney stack before you decide what to do next. We carry out chimney surveys in Shipton-under-Wychwood.
- Worn or missing pointing
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
How the survey works
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes an hour or two for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. Older rural homes like those around Shipton-under-Wychwood can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before the survey
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
Getting a price
Most bookings start with a short call: call 07833 053749 or email us, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Advice
Chimney survey in Shipton-under-Wychwood: what you get
Many terraced and semi-detached homes share their chimney stacks with a neighbour. We look at what can be seen safely and what the owner gives us access to. If a defect appears to be on the neighbour’s side, we note it and you can then discuss it with them. You get a written report with photos and our recommendations. We survey lead flashings, brick chimney stacks and chimney breasts, and people most often book us about a stack that appears to lean and staining on walls around the chimney.
In a village or hamlet like Shipton-under-Wychwood, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few 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. On older roofs, it is usually the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
We write the report in plain English, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Each point is backed by a photograph where possible.
- Place
- Shipton-under-Wychwood (OX7)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
DIY checks: what’s safe
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: broken slates or tiles in the garden, gaps along the ridge or loose lead are signs to note. Do not go up yourself.
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Slates, tiles, flat roofs and rooflights can give way. That’s where a survey comes in, using safe viewpoints and a drone where applicable.
Towns and villages near Shipton-under-Wychwood
More services for Shipton-under-Wychwood
Local roofs in Shipton-under-Wychwood
The wider area around Shipton-under-Wychwood has a long history of building, with Minster Lovell Hall about 5 miles south-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. West Oxfordshire’s older buildings often carry Cotswold stone slates, and a few villages in the county keep their thatch. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
If you let a flat or house near Shipton station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints. If you live in an older home near Church of St Mary, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Shipton-under-Wychwood is about 6 miles north of Carterton, in Oxfordshire. Bookings from Shipton-under-Wychwood are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire, large and small. Oxford is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: OX7. Whether your property is on High Street, Station Road and Magpie Alley or a nearby road, we can help. If you are just outside Shipton-under-Wychwood, we cover Ascott Earl (1 mile east), Ascott-under-Wychwood (1 mile east), Lyneham (2 miles north), Ascott d'Oyley (2 miles east) and Chilson (3 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Witney (7 miles south-east), Carterton (6 miles south), Faringdon (14 miles south), Kidlington (14 miles east), Chipping Norton (6 miles north) and Woodstock (11 miles east).
What’s near Shipton-under-Wychwood
Typical jobs here are in homes near The Wychwood Inn and the streets around them. The closest station to Shipton-under-Wychwood is Shipton station, about 0.5 miles north-east of the centre.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Shipton-under-Wychwood
Letting agents often book on a landlord’s behalf, and the report can go to both. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
Buyers’ agents can book surveys on behalf of their clients. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photographs included.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Shipton-under-Wychwood
Is my home in Shipton-under-Wychwood 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.
Is Shipton-under-Wychwood within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
How soon will I get the report?
Basic reports arrive within 48 hours, Standard reports in 24–48 hours and Premium reports on the same day. All of them come by email, ready to forward.
What causes damp on a chimney breast?
Damp on a chimney breast normally means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. The survey looks at the stack, the flashings and the capping and records the likely cause.
Can you give me structural calculations?
No. We’re roof surveyors, not structural engineers. We will recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
What does a chimney survey cover?
Every part of the stack we can see from safe positions: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings. We also note leaning, redundant stacks and damp inside.
What insurance do you have?
Every survey is covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Practical tips
A few practical points come up again and again on our surveys. They’re worth knowing whatever the roof:
- Make sure unused flues are capped with ventilation
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
After the visit, we write up the report with photographs of each stack. It covers the pots, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings, and any damp we found inside. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24 to 48 hours for Standard and the same day for Premium.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. Early signs are easier to trace.
What happens if roof problems are left?
A small amount of repointing or new flaunching is normally a modest job. Leave it, and frost can work the stack loose, and the work grows. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all with VAT included. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
Why book us in Shipton-under-Wychwood
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Independent findings on the roof’s condition
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- Customer satisfaction of 98%
Common roof problems in Shipton-under-Wychwood
A stack takes the weather from every direction. 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.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Bricks with flaking faces
If you look after a building such as Wychwood Church of England Primary School, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
What to check before booking
- What insurance they carry
- Which parts of the roof they’ll actually see
- How soon the report will arrive
- Whether you get a written report with photos