Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Stoke Row, Oxfordshire
An experienced roof surveyor for chimney surveys in Stoke Row. More than 20 years and over 5,000 surveys.
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Redundant stacks capped without ventilation
- Gaps in the mortar around the pots
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Stoke Row
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 photos and findings you can take back to the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. We survey chimney breasts, brick chimney stacks and flaunching, and people most often book us about frost-damaged brickwork on the stack and eroded joints in the brickwork.
In a village or hamlet like Stoke Row, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. On older roofs, it is normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where it applies, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Stoke Row (RG9, RG8)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What a survey costs
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
Price depends partly on the package: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 or Premium from £400, all including VAT. The roof’s size, height and access matter as well.
Helping us price your survey
The more you let us know, the easier it is to price the survey. When you contact us, let us know:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Whether there is a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Dates you’re working to, such as exchange
- Your postcode, so we can check access and travel
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.
Signs you need a chimney survey in Stoke Row
TV aerials, satellite dishes and their brackets are often fixed to chimneys. Their weight and the wind on them can loosen bricks and pointing. We check fixings on the stack as part of the survey.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- A chimney out of line
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Staining on walls around the chimney
Take an older house close to Church of St John the Evangelist: the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- What follow-up you get after the report
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether VAT is in the quoted price
- Whether the inside of the roof is included
Why get it checked now?
If you are thinking of removing or reducing a stack, it is useful to know its condition first. Changes to stacks in conservation areas or on listed buildings may need consent, so check with them first. For older village homes like those around Stoke Row, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
All our prices include VAT. Prices start from £150, including VAT. You’ll know the exact price before booking.
Why us?
- Clear package prices, including VAT
- Satisfaction rate of 98%
- An independent look at the roof
- We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Stoke Row: your questions answered
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Stoke Row?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Will you come out to Stoke Row?
Yes, we do. We cover the whole of London and South East England, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned in advance.
My chimney looks like it’s leaning. What should I do?
It’s worth having a leaning stack checked. Our survey notes how it looks and the condition of the bricks and joints, and if it may be a structural issue, we recommend a structural engineer.
How do I arrange a chimney survey in Stoke Row?
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us and let us know the address and what you need to know. We will confirm the price and find a day that suits.
How long does the survey take?
Expect it to take about 1–2 hours at a typical home, or half a day or so for a commercial building. The written report follows by email.
Is a chimney survey the same as a flue inspection?
No. It isn’t a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
Will you walk on the roof?
Not always. Safety comes first, and fragile or steep roofs cannot always be walked on. We use safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable.
Chimney surveys around Stoke Row
The wider area around Stoke Row has a long history of building, with Greys Court about 2.7 miles east. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire frequently 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. Whichever you have, the details that tend to fail before the covering itself get the closest look.
Take a building like Stoke Row Church of England School: large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Stoke Row is about 6 miles north-west of Caversham, in Oxfordshire. We survey roofs in Stoke Row and the rest of Oxfordshire. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire, large and small. For surveys nearby, see our Reading page.
All of RG9 and RG8 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Main Street, Nottwood Lane and Busgrove Lane and the roads around them. Other places close to Stoke Row include Checkendon (1 mile west), Heath End (2 miles north-west), Hook End (2 miles south-west), Nuffield (2 miles north) and Gallowstree Common (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Didcot (11 miles west), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles north-west), Thame (14 miles north), Henley-on-Thames (5 miles east), Benson (6 miles north-west) and Chinnor (11 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Stoke Row
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Cherry Tree Public House, among other places. The countryside around Stoke Row includes Warburg Nature Reserve.
Towns and villages near Stoke Row
More services for Stoke Row
What we look for on each type of roof
Brick stacks
Older brick stacks frequently have soft lime mortar. Repairs should suit the original materials, which we mention where relevant.
Chimney breasts and the loft
Inside, chimney breasts can show damp when water gets into the stack. We check them and at the stack in the loft where there is safe access.
For landlords and managing agents
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Stoke Row. For a price for a let property or a block, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email.
Businesses and commercial landlords can book us too. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
What happens on the day
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Around Stoke Row, 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.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- Each chimney is viewed from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We check and photograph the pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- Where there’s safe access, we look at the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- You get a report with photographs and our recommendations.
Before the survey
- Leave side gates unlocked
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with whoever owns or manages the building
Booking a survey
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the roof’s size, access and the package, so call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the details.