Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Shirburn Chimney Survey
Need a chimney survey in Shirburn? We can help, with findings in writing and pictures to back them up. Weekday and weekend visits available.
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Signs that a stack is leaning
Local roofs in Shirburn
Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. With Adwell House about 2.4 miles north, Shirburn sits in an area with a long building history. Older roofs in the wider area can hide decades of patch repairs, so the detail matters, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
If you live in an older home near All Saints Church, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
Shirburn is about 6 miles south of Thame, in Oxfordshire. Wherever you are in Shirburn, we can carry out chimney surveys at your property. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Oxford.
We work across OX49 for chimney surveys. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Watlington Road, Castle Road and Blenheim Road or a nearby road, we can help. If you are just outside Shirburn, we cover Lewknor (1 mile north-east), South Weston (2 miles north), Christmas Common (2 miles south-east), Postcombe (2 miles north) and Howe Hill (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (12 miles north-west), Didcot (11 miles west), Abingdon-on-Thames (13 miles west), Thame (6 miles north), Henley-on-Thames (9 miles south-east) and Benson (5 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Shirburn
Typical jobs here are in homes near Watlington Primary School, St Mary's Church and The Chequers pub, among other places. The countryside around Shirburn includes Aston Rowant NNR and Bald Hill.
About our chimney survey in Shirburn
Many homes have chimneys that are no longer used. A disused stack still needs looking after. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. We survey brick chimney stacks, chimney breasts and chimney pots and cowls, and common reasons people get in touch are staining on walls around the chimney and signs that a stack is leaning.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. 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.
The report is written in plain words, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photographs show what each point refers to.
- Where
- Shirburn (OX49)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Shirburn
What else we do in Shirburn
Prices for chimney surveys in Shirburn
The price reflects the time and kit the roof needs. The main factors are:
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
The Premium Survey includes thermal imaging and drone inspection where it applies, from £400 including VAT. We can help you choose the package that fits what you’d like to know.
Helping us price your survey
If you can, have these to hand when you get in touch:
- What’s prompted the survey
- The property’s address and postcode
- How the loft is reached, if there is one
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, and you can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email to find out.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Landlords, agents and building managers in Shirburn and across Oxfordshire can book any of our surveys. To discuss a property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
What we are asked to look at in Shirburn
Where a chimney meets the roof, lead flashings keep water out. They can lift in wind, crack with age or pull out of the mortar joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead is also a target for theft.
A survey can pick up problems like:
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
If you look after a building such as Icknield Community College, long gutter runs and wide roofs on a building that size are worth checking on a regular cycle.
What to check before booking
- Whether any drone flown is registered with the CAA
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- How much experience they have with roofs like yours
- What insurance they carry
Before and after the survey
Here are a few things we’d tell any owner:
- Leave close inspection to people with safe access
- Glance at the stacks from the street now and then
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer or builder. We use plain English and a photo for each defect so anyone reading it can see what we saw.
Unused stacks should be capped in a way that still lets air through. Ventilation helps keep the stack dry.
Shirburn: your questions answered
Is my home in Shirburn listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Do you cover Shirburn?
Yes, Shirburn is one of the places we work. The survey and report are the same in Shirburn as anywhere else.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs such as sagging are noted, but calculations and an engineer’s opinion are outside what we do. If one is needed, the report says so.
What happens next?
The report comes by email, and what you do next is up to you: raise it with a seller, send it to an insurer, brief a roofer or share it with a managing agent.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and the rules allow, yes. Our sub-250g drone is flown by a CAA-registered operator with a Flyer ID and Operator ID, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. It’s a specialist roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 building survey. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
What’s the best way to book?
Just phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day.
Leave it or get it looked at?
For a buyer, the best time to learn about a chimney is before exchange. After that, any work is yours to arrange and pay for. A report gives you something specific to put to the seller. In a small place like Shirburn, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Prices start from £150, including VAT. Packages run from Basic at £150 through Standard at £250 to Premium at £400, inc. VAT, and we will tell you which fits.
Why book us in Shirburn
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Prices that include VAT
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
Take a look at our cost guide and what we found on two real jobs.
How the survey works
It helps to start with what’s prompted the survey: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. That way we can focus on what matters to you. Most visits take about one to two hours for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. In a small place like Shirburn, access is usually the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- We check the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
How to prepare
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Dig out any old roof reports or invoices
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
How to book
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.