Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Swerford Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Swerford, from an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photos.
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
About our chimney survey in Swerford
Our survey covers the structure of the stack and its weathering details. It’s not a flue inspection, a chimney sweep or a gas safety inspection. If you use a fire or a gas appliance, the flue should be checked by a sweep or a Gas Safe registered engineer as appropriate. If something we see points to the flue, we will say so. If you are worried about unused flues sealed without airflow and frost-damaged brickwork on the stack, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on shared and party-wall stacks, brick chimney stacks and flaunching alike.
In a small place like Swerford, many roofs stand in the open, so ridges, chimney stacks, flashings and gutters work hard. Damp in old walls is slow to dry, so a small leak can do a lot of harm. A roof report shows what needs attention first. Lead flashings and old chimney stacks are often where weather gets in first.
The report is written in plain words, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Photographs show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Place
- Swerford (OX7)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Signs you need a chimney survey in Swerford
A stack takes the weather from every direction. Frost works into cracks in the flaunching and pointing, and rain soaks into worn brickwork. Most people book after spotting damp or a loose pot, or before buying.
A survey makes sense if you’ve noticed:
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
For any home in Swerford, it’s the small, early fault that is cheapest to put right.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- How soon the report will arrive
- Their insurance cover
- What follow-up you get after the report
Places near Swerford
More services for Swerford
How the survey changes by roof type
Rendered stacks
Cracked render can let water in and trap it behind. Cracks are photographed and noted.
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.
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Swerford
Older buildings may be listed or sit in a conservation area. To find out, check Historic England’s list and ask the council about conservation areas. In either case, a change of roofing material may need consent. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire frequently have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. 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 Mary: old fixings, lead flashings and tall chimneys are typical of older roofs.
Swerford is about 7 miles south-west of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. We survey roofs in Swerford across London and South East England. Swerford is one of the towns and villages in Oxfordshire where we work. For surveys nearby, see our Oxford page.
Here we cover the OX7 postcode area for chimney surveys. Streets in the area include Chapel Hill and St Mary's Lane, and we cover them all. We also cover the places around Swerford: Wigginton (1 mile north-east), Little Tew (2 miles south), Great Tew (2 miles south-east), Hook Norton (2 miles north-west) and South Newington (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Banbury (7 miles north-east), Bicester (14 miles south-east), Witney (13 miles south), Kidlington (13 miles south-east), Bure Park (13 miles east) and Chipping Norton (5 miles south-west).
Around Swerford
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to The Boxing Hare pub. Nearby you’ll also find Old Forge Museum (Great Tew) (1.6 miles south-east). The countryside around Swerford includes Woodford Bottom and Lamb's Pool.
Before and after the survey
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Have brackets on the chimney checked
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Use the report as a baseline for future checks
- Have the flue swept and checked if you use the fire
If anything in the report is not clear, just ask us. Standard Surveys come with a follow-up consultation, and Premium Surveys with an in-person one.
Get small mortar repairs done while they’re small. Small repairs now can save bigger work later.
How the survey works
You don’t 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 a house, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. Somewhere as small as Swerford, access is frequently the only tricky part. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Weekday and weekend visits are available.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We look at the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before the survey
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Tell us about any leaks, stains or damp patches you know of
Arrange a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window. To send them or to book, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
Related advice
Prices for chimney surveys in Swerford
What a survey costs depends on the time and equipment it needs. That comes down to:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Roof area
- Extensions, dormers and garages with roofs of their own
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
Our price is from £150, including VAT. What you pay depends on the size and height of the roof, access and which survey you book.
What we need to know
When you call or email, these details help:
- Any photos you have, taken from the ground or a window
- Anything about access we should know
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- What made you get in touch
Getting a price is simple: just ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, let us know about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Why act early in Swerford
Chimneys are easy to forget because you rarely see the top of them. Problems frequently go unnoticed until damp appears inside. Surveying the stack now can catch problems first. Where a roof is exposed, as many are in small places like Swerford, driving rain gets into any weakness, and damp in older walls is slow to dry out.
A Basic Survey starts from £150, including VAT. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400, both with VAT included. You’ll know the exact price before booking.
Why book us in Swerford
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
- 98% of customers satisfied
- Clear package prices, inc. VAT
- A sub-250g drone, flown with a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
Take a look at how roof surveys are priced and two real surveys.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Swerford
Do you cover smaller places like Swerford?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Swerford?
You can check whether a building is listed on Historic England’s list, and your council can tell you if it’s in a conservation area. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. This is a survey of the roof only, so it is not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey. It can sit alongside a RICS survey if you want both.
How long will you be at the property?
It typically takes between one and two hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. You will then get the report by email.
Will I get photos?
Yes. The report includes photographs of what we found, so you can see exactly what each finding refers to.
Can you inspect my roof with a drone?
Where it helps and it is safe, yes. Whether we can fly on the day depends on the weather and the airspace rules, and we check for restrictions near airports before flying. We are a CAA-registered drone operator.
Does someone need to be in?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.