Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Swalcliffe, Oxfordshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Swalcliffe, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Bricks with flaking faces
Before and after the survey
Over many surveys, some simple habits stand out:
- Look at the chimneys with binoculars after a storm
- Photograph damp patches with the date
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
- Check with the council before altering a stack in a conservation area or on a listed building
If anything in the report isn’t clear, just ask us. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Have aerial and dish brackets on the stack checked and taken off if they’re no longer needed. Removing unused fixings takes strain off the brickwork.
How a chimney survey works in Swalcliffe
On terraced and semi-detached houses, a chimney stack is often shared with next door. We inspect the parts we can see safely and the parts the owner gives us access to. Where a problem seems to involve a neighbour’s side, the report records it, so you can talk to them. Everything is written up with photos and our recommendations. We survey lead flashings, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney breasts, and people most often book us about gaps where the stack meets the roof and flaunching that has broken away.
Village roofs often face open fields and take the full force of wind and rain, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Older walls take a long time to dry once water gets in. 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.
We write the report in plain English, so it makes sense without any roofing background. Photographs show what each point refers to, and recommendations are put in order of urgency where relevant.
- Where
- Swalcliffe (OX15)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching is one of the most common chimney defects we record. Caught early, it’s often a small job.
Brick stacks
Brick stacks rely on sound pointing to keep water out. We check the bricks for spalling and the joints for erosion.
What we do, step by step
You do not need to do much on the day. Show us any stains, drips or problem areas you know about, and we will get on with the inspection. A typical survey takes between one and two hours for most houses, while a commercial roof takes nearer three to four hours. Cottages and farmhouses around Swalcliffe often have roofs at several levels, with lean-tos and outbuildings attached. Each part is looked at from wherever it can safely be seen.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- We inspect each stack from safe viewpoints outside.
- Every part we can see is checked: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the loft space where we can reach them.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Before we arrive
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
- Keep pets out of the way during the survey
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
Book a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from ground level or a window; never climb up to get a better view. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Read more
DIY checks: what’s safe
A DIY look is useful, but it is not a survey. You won’t see flashings, valleys or the backs of chimneys properly from the ground.
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Share it with us as you book, as it helps us focus the survey.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Roof problems in a rented home affect tenants as well as the building. A survey helps you spot issues early and plan the work around your tenants.
We survey roofs for letting agents and landlords as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the chimney stack, with photographs.
Nearby places to Swalcliffe
Also in Swalcliffe
What a chimney survey doesn’t cover
In fairness, there are limits to any roof survey:
- Areas we can’t view from safe positions
- Conditions inside walls
- A structural engineer’s assessment
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and we’ll tell you before you book. The full list of what we check.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings
- Brick chimney stacks
- Flaunching
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Shared and party-wall stacks
Swalcliffe questions
Is Swalcliffe in the area you cover?
Yes, Swalcliffe is one of the places we work. Every survey there gets the same written report with photographs.
Is my home in Swalcliffe listed or in a conservation area?
We cannot confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case.
Do I have to be there for the survey?
It depends on what we need to see. Inside the building and in the loft, we need someone to let us in; we’ll agree the details when booking.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
It depends on its condition and your plans. The survey shows its condition and how it’s been capped. If you are thinking of removing it, check with the council first in a conservation area or on a listed building.
What does a roof survey cost?
Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. Our three packages are Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, with VAT included.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and the report uses them to show each finding.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
Damp on a chimney breast normally means water is getting into the stack, or moisture is trapped inside it. We check the stack, the flashings and how unused flues are capped and records the likely cause.
What a chimney survey looks like in Swalcliffe
About 2.5 miles east lies Broughton Castle, a reminder of how long the area around Swalcliffe has been built on. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
Take an older house close to Church of St Peter and St Paul: the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. If you look after a building such as Sibford School, large buildings have long gutter runs and big roofs that need checking like any other.
Swalcliffe is about 5 miles west of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. We visit Swalcliffe as part of our work across Oxfordshire. Our Oxfordshire coverage includes Swalcliffe. Oxford is in our area too.
Here we cover the OX15 postcode area for chimney surveys. You will find streets such as The Green, Bakers Lane and Brick Row, all of which we cover. Other places close to Swalcliffe include Tadmarton (1 mile east), Burdrop (1 mile west), Sibford Ferris (1 mile west), Sibford Gower (2 miles west) and Shutford (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Banbury (5 miles east), Bure Park (15 miles south-east), Chipping Norton (8 miles south-west), Neithrop (4 miles north-east), Grimsbury (6 miles east) and Ruscote (4 miles north-east).
Landmarks near Swalcliffe
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Lampet Arms, among other places. A little further out are Bloxham Village Museum (3.5 miles south-east) and Broughton Castle (2.5 miles east). Open spaces near Swalcliffe include Crouch Hill and Woodford Bottom and Lamb's Pool.