Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Somerton
Chimney surveys around Somerton, with a written report you can act on. Book a weekday or weekend visit.
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
Tips from our surveys
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Never climb onto the roof to look at a chimney
Where another specialist is needed, like a structural engineer or sweep, we explain why. That helps you brief them.
Have worn pointing and cracked flaunching dealt with early. It is far simpler than rebuilding a stack later.
About our chimney survey in Somerton
Each stack is looked at from the safest viewpoints available: the ground, nearby windows and higher points, and the loft space where it’s safe. A drone inspection is part of our Premium Survey where it applies. Where part of a stack can’t be seen, the report says so. Each defect is recorded with a photo and a plain description. We survey brick chimney stacks, shared and party-wall stacks and flaunching, and common reasons people get in touch are damaged chimney pots and cowls and signs that a stack is leaning.
Older buildings in small places like Somerton may be listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials like clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
The written findings come by email, ready to forward to whoever needs them. Turnaround is within 48 hours for Basic, 24–48 hours for Standard and same day for Premium.
- Where
- Somerton (OX25)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Places near Somerton
Also in Somerton
What a chimney survey looks like in Somerton
If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it’s listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Older houses in the South East often have slate or clay tile roofs, while many later estates have concrete tiles. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
If you own a rental within reach of Heyford station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant. Take an older house close to Church of St James: old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Somerton is about 6 miles north-west of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. Bookings from Somerton are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Our Oxfordshire coverage includes Somerton and the places around it. There’s also a page for Oxford.
All of OX25 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. That includes homes and businesses on Water Street, Wharf Lane and Ardley Road. Other places close to Somerton include Fritwell (2 miles east), Clifton (2 miles north), Upper Heyford (2 miles south), Souldern (2 miles north-east) and Lower Heyford (3 miles south). Further out, we also cover Oxford (14 miles south), Banbury (8 miles north), Bicester (6 miles south-east), Witney (15 miles south-west), Kidlington (9 miles south) and Headington Quarry (14 miles south).
Local landmarks in Somerton
The nearest railway station is Heyford station, roughly 2.7 miles south. Well-known places in the area include Deddington Castle (2.4 miles north-west).
What happens if roof problems are left?
Chimneys are easy to forget because you rarely see the top of them. Defects tend to go unseen until there is a stain. Surveying the stack now can catch problems first. In a place like Somerton, a barn or garage roof left to fail puts whatever is inside at risk. A quick look before winter can save a lot.
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT.
Why us?
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- Prices that include VAT
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
See how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Roof by roof
Flaunching
Flaunching is the mortar on top of a stack that holds the pots and sheds water. Cracks in it let water into the stack.
Chimney breasts and the loft
In the loft, staining around the stack often shows where water is getting in. What we find is photographed and described.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Somerton
Where a roof is shared: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Let us know about it as you book and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client.
FAQs for Somerton
Do you cover smaller places like Somerton?
Yes. Somerton is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and the South East. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the route as you book.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Somerton?
For listing, use Historic England’s list; for conservation areas, ask the council. It matters most if you’re planning to re-roof in a different material.
How experienced are you?
We’ve been surveying roofs for over 20 years and have completed over 5,000 surveys.
Is this a RICS survey?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and our survey covers the roof rather than the whole building. For the rest of the building, a RICS home survey is a separate job.
Do you look in the loft space?
If it’s needed and safe to reach, yes. We look for staining, damp, daylight and signs of movement, as far as the space allows.
Does the weather affect the survey?
A survey can usually go ahead in light rain. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so if conditions aren’t right we’ll arrange another day with you.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but confirming it is a job for a specialist asbestos surveyor. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it.
What happens on the day
We check the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey usually takes between one and two hours at most homes; commercial roofs usually need 3–4 hours. Around Somerton, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so let us know about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can be seen safely.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Where there’s safe access, we check the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
Preparing for the visit
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
Book a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Pictures from ground level or a window are fine, and please do not climb up for a closer look. To get started, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Can I check my roof myself?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
Keep a simple record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us when you book and it will help the survey.