Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Sprig's Alley
Know where you stand with the chimney stack before you decide what to do next. We carry out chimney surveys in Sprig's Alley, with photos and a clear written report.
- A chimney out of line
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Bricks with flaking faces
Chimney survey in Sprig's Alley: what you get
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. You get photographs and findings you can take back to the seller or agent. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it. If you are worried about damaged chimney pots and cowls and gaps in the mortar around the pots, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on lead flashings, flaunching and shared and party-wall stacks alike.
Some older homes in villages like Sprig's Alley are listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. Knowing the roof’s condition helps you plan ahead with that in mind. Older materials like clay tiles, slate and stone are frequently matched when work is done.
We write the report in plain English, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Photos show what each point refers to.
- Location
- Sprig's Alley (OX39)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What happens on the day
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes about one to two hours for most houses, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. You are welcome to ask questions while we are there. Older rural homes like those around Sprig's Alley can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. We work round each section in turn, from the safest viewpoints, and anything we cannot see is noted.
- You let us know how many stacks there are and any damp or problems you’ve noticed.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can be seen safely.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there is safe access.
- You get a photo-illustrated written report and our recommendations.
Before we arrive
- Let us know about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
- Mention any parking restrictions on your street
Booking a survey
A quick phone call is usually the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or drop us an email, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Advice
Nearby places to Sprig's Alley
What else we do in Sprig's Alley
Surveys for landlords and agents in Sprig's Alley
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as householders. A photo-illustrated written report gives you a clear record of the chimney stack, useful for planning maintenance.
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work with less disruption.
Roof by roof
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. Caught early, it’s frequently a small job.
Lead flashings
Mortar fillets are sometimes used where lead would normally be. They crack with age, and we check them too.
Chimney surveys in Sprig's Alley: local notes
The wider area around Sprig's Alley has a long history of building, with Adwell House about 4.4 miles west. 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. 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. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
If you let a flat or house near Saunderton station, a roof report between tenancies helps plan work before a small defect becomes a tenant’s leak.
Sprig's Alley is about 6 miles south-east of Thame, in Oxfordshire. If you’re in Sprig's Alley, booking works exactly as it does anywhere else: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Sprig's Alley is one of the towns and villages in Oxfordshire where we work for chimney surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Oxford page.
Surveys in OX39 are booked the same way as anywhere else. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Sprigs Holly Lane and Sprigs Holly or anywhere close by, we can survey it. Other places close to Sprig's Alley include Bennett End (1 mile south-east), Stokenchurch (1 mile south), Rout's Green (1 mile east), Radnage (2 miles south-east) and Waterend (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Oxford (15 miles west), Thame (6 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (10 miles south), Benson (10 miles south-west), Headington Quarry (14 miles north-west) and Wallingford (12 miles south-west).
Near you in Sprig's Alley
Around Sprig's Alley, our work takes us to homes and buildings near Sir Charles Napier Inn, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Saunderton station, about 2.9 miles east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Thame Community Hospital (5.6 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Oakley Hill nature reserve and Bald Hill.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT.
What to tell us when you get in touch
What helps most when you contact us:
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Pictures from the garden or a window, if you have them
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Where the property is, with the postcode
We confirm the price for your survey before you book, so you know where you stand. Our price is from £150, including VAT. For a price for your roof, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
When you need someone else
To be straight with you, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- A structural engineer’s assessment
- Areas we cannot view from safe positions
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we’ll give you a straight answer before booking. What a survey covers and does not.
Roofs we survey in Sprig's Alley
- Lead flashings
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Chimney breasts
- Flaunching
Common questions in Sprig's Alley
Is my home in Sprig's Alley listed or in a conservation area?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you cover smaller places like Sprig's Alley?
Yes, we do. We survey roofs across London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. The journey is planned ahead, so it is useful to know about access.
How long have you been surveying roofs?
Over 5,000 surveys so far, over more than 20 years.
Do you need to get into the loft?
If there is a loft and safe access to it, yes. The roof space can show things the outside can’t, such as damp timbers, staining or daylight.
Is it a problem to have an unused chimney?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. We check how it’s capped and its condition, so you can plan what to do with it.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. We don’t carry out asbestos surveys or testing. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, like cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings.
Do I need to be at home?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in, while outside access can be discussed when booking.
What you can safely check yourself
A DIY look is useful, but it isn’t a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from ground level, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
After heavy rain, check ceilings and the tops of walls for new stains. Photograph them and note the date.