Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Sunningwell Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys in Sunningwell from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Unused flues sealed without airflow
- Flaunching that has broken away
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Sunningwell
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Older houses in the South East frequently 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. The wider area around Sunningwell has a long history of building, with Appleton Manor about 3.2 miles west. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years.
The streets around a church such as Church of St Leonard are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your home is one of the older ones nearby, corroded nails, tired lead and weathered chimney pointing are the things to watch on older roofs. If you let a flat or house near Radley station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let.
Sunningwell is about 2 miles north of Abingdon-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire. We visit Sunningwell as part of our work across Oxfordshire. We cover towns and villages across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages.
Chimney surveys in OX13 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. We offer chimney surveys to properties on Bullsmead, Dark Lane and Sunningwell Road and the roads around them. We also cover Bayworth (1 mile north-east), Boars Hill (1 mile north), Chilswell (2 miles north), Hinksey Hill (2 miles north-east) and Kennington (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (4 miles north-east), Didcot (7 miles south), Bicester (15 miles north), Witney (11 miles north-west), Carterton (14 miles west) and Thame (14 miles east).
What’s near Sunningwell
Typical jobs here are in homes near Albert Park, Fitzharrys School and The Flowing Well pub, among other places. The nearest railway station is Radley station, roughly 2.3 miles south-east. A little further out are Westgate Shopping Centre (3.6 miles north) and Abingdon Community Hospital (2.2 miles south). Open spaces near Sunningwell include Harcourt Hill and Lashford Lane Fen.
How a chimney survey works in Sunningwell
Redundant chimneys are common, particularly where fires have been replaced by central heating. A disused stack still needs looking after. Capping a stack without ventilation can trap moisture and lead to damp inside. Our survey looks at how each unused stack has been capped and checks the breasts for damp. The report sets out what we found and what we recommend. Typical surveys look at a chimney out of line and frost-damaged brickwork on the stack, across flaunching, lead flashings and chimney breasts.
Older buildings in small places like Sunningwell may be 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. Where a building is listed, matching the existing roof materials is often expected.
Findings are set out part by part, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets, each with a short note and a photograph. It records what’s sound as well as what is not.
- Place
- Sunningwell (OX13)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Different roofs, different checks
Chimney breasts and the loft
If a chimney breast has been removed below, we note what we can see of the support above. A structural engineer should confirm whether it’s adequate.
Lead flashings
Where the chimney meets the roof slopes, lead flashings keep water out. The survey looks at whether the lead is tight, sound and well fixed.
Landlords, agents and block managers in Sunningwell
We also survey roofs for businesses and commercial landlords, including offices, shops and units. Larger roofs take longer, so they’re priced to suit.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants. Surveys run seven days a week, which can make access easier.
When to book a survey in Sunningwell
Years of fires can affect the mortar inside a stack. Flue gases and damp can break down the mortar, sometimes more on one side than the other, which is one reason stacks start to lean.
A survey can pick up problems such as:
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- A stack that appears to lean
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
For businesses in and around places such as Westgate Shopping Centre, a roof report helps plan work around trading rather than after a leak.
Before you book anyone
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- Whether the price includes VAT
- Their track record with similar roofs
- How long the report takes to arrive
Places near Sunningwell
Also in Sunningwell
The survey, step by step
We work from the outside in: outside views come first, then the roof space if there’s safe access. All told, expect an hour or two for a house, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Older rural homes like those around Sunningwell can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely, and anything we can’t see is noted.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- The stacks are looked at from the ground, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- Every part we can see is checked: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- Where there is safe access, we look at the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- You get a written report with photos and our recommendations.
How to prepare
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- If it is not your property yet, arrange access through the agent
Getting a price
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from ground level or a window. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Sunningwell: your questions answered
Is Sunningwell within the area you cover?
Yes, Sunningwell is covered. We cover the whole of London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it helps to know about access.
I let a flat near Radley station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, rented property is part of what we cover. You can ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and some details.
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.
Will you check the loft?
If there’s a loft and safe access to it, yes. The loft space can show things the outside can’t, like damp timbers, staining or daylight.
What’s in the survey report?
It sets out what we found, why it matters and what we recommend, with photographs throughout. Anything we couldn’t see safely is noted too.
What happens after the survey?
You’ll get the report by email, with photographs and clear recommendations. With Standard there is a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. We flag materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement sheets or soffits on pre-2000 buildings and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before any work.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can point to a blockage or a sagging run.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from the ground: pieces of tile or slate on the ground, a gap in the ridge or a lifted flashing are all worth noting. Leave anything above ground level to a survey.
Useful tips for Sunningwell property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- Ask for ventilated caps on redundant stacks
- Check fixings on the stack are secure
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas appliances
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
The report is emailed to you, ready to share with a roofer or builder. Each defect is described in plain words and shown in a photo, so it is easy to follow.
Check your stacks from the street or garden after a storm. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.