Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Upper Arncott Chimney Survey
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching for Upper Arncott, from an experienced roof surveyor. Every survey comes with a written report and photos.
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
Chimney survey in Upper Arncott
If you are buying a home with chimneys, it’s worth knowing their condition before you exchange. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. Our report gives you specific points to raise with the seller or agent. It complements a RICS home survey rather than replacing it. We survey lead flashings, chimney breasts and flaunching, and people most often book us about spalled or crumbling bricks and loose, cracked or missing pots.
Somewhere as small as Upper Arncott, homes are frequently older cottages and farmhouses, with outbuildings and some newer houses. Roofs there can be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, and chimney stacks are often old. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs frequently need the most attention.
Where we cannot see part of the chimney stack, the report says so. You will know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Location
- Upper Arncott (OX25)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Roofs, chimneys and gutters in Upper Arncott
The wider area around Upper Arncott has a long history of building, with Boarstall Tower about 2 miles south-east. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material. Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often 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. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters.
If you own a rental within reach of Bicester Village station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Upper Arncott is about 4 miles south-east of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. We carry out chimney surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Upper Arncott and nearby. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire. Our Oxford page covers surveys nearby.
Here we cover the OX25 postcode area for chimney surveys. Whether your property is on Hopcraft Close, Murcott Road and Teale Close or a nearby road, we can help. Other places close to Upper Arncott include Lower Arncott (1 mile north), Ambrosden (1 mile north), Murcott (2 miles south-west), Merton (2 miles west) and Fencott (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Oxford (8 miles south-west), Bicester (4 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles south-west), Thame (9 miles south-east), Kidlington (8 miles west) and Chinnor (14 miles south-east).
Local landmarks in Upper Arncott
In Upper Arncott, that means homes and buildings near The Plough pub and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Bicester Village station, about 3.3 miles north-west of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Bicester Community Hospital (3.7 miles north-west) and Bicester Village (3.4 miles north-west). The countryside around Upper Arncott includes Otmoor RSPB reserve and Graven Hill.
The survey, step by step
The visit has one job: to see as much of the chimney stack as can be seen safely and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. It typically takes about 1–2 hours at a typical home, rising to roughly 3–4 hours on a commercial building. In a small place like Upper Arncott, access is usually the main thing to plan. Mention any outbuildings, barns or garages you want included, and anything about the roof you already know. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We go through the chimneys, any damp and any work done on them.
- Each stack is inspected from safe positions outside.
- We photograph and record the pots, flaunching, pointing and flashings.
- We look for damp on chimney breasts and in the roof space.
- You get a written report with photos and recommendations by email.
Before we arrive
- If you are buying, let the agent know when we’re coming
- Let us know about parking before the day
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Arrange a survey
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us and tell us the address and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price before you book.
Related advice
Upper Arncott questions
Will you come out to Upper Arncott?
We do. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Can a landlord with a rental near Bicester Village station book a roof survey?
Yes, that is a common request. Let us know whether a tenant or an agent will let us in, and we can send the report to you or your agent.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We are roof surveyors, not structural engineers, and it doesn’t include calculations. We will recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
Will you check the loft?
Yes, where the survey calls for it and there’s safe access. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging.
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. Each one is emailed.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Light rain does not normally stop a survey. Strong wind or heavy rain can stop drone flights and make roof access unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
Why get it checked now?
If you’re buying, find out about the stacks before you exchange. Once you’ve exchanged, the work is down to you. A report gives you something specific to put to the seller. In a small place like Upper Arncott, homes can be exposed to wind and rain, which finds any gap, and older walls, once damp, take a long time to dry.
Prices start from £150, including VAT, for a Basic Survey. Standard is from £250 and Premium from £400. We confirm the price for the job before you book.
Why choose Independent Roof Survey in Upper Arncott
- PI and public liability insurance
- Over 5,000 surveys carried out
- Visits on any day of the week
- Drones and thermal imaging where applicable
Read how roof surveys are priced and what we found on two real jobs.
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Keep a simple record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
Your own check is a good start, but it is not a survey. From ground level, valleys, flashings and the backs of chimneys are frequently out of sight, and those are details a survey looks at closely.
Nearby places to Upper Arncott
More services for Upper Arncott
Honest limits
This isn’t a RICS building survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- Gas safety checks, which need a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Hidden damage within the stack
If you are not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us and we will give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
What we look at
- Flaunching
- Lead flashings
- Chimney breasts
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Shared and party-wall stacks
What affects the price in Upper Arncott
Prices vary from roof to roof, for these reasons:
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Height and safe access
- Features like valleys, chimneys, dormers and parapets
- Extra roofs, like extensions, dormers or garages
All our prices include VAT. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. We confirm the price for your roof before booking.
What we need to know
These details help when you contact us:
- Pictures of the roof from a safe spot, if you have them
- Anything about access we should know
- What kind of property and roof it is
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
Every survey is priced before it’s booked, so you know where you stand. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT. To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Common roof problems in Upper Arncott
Where a chimney meets the roof, lead flashings keep water out. They can lift in wind, crack with age or pull out of the mortar joints. Failed flashings are one of the most common causes of damp around chimneys. Lead is also a target for theft.
Common reasons to book include:
- Damp on a chimney breast inside
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Mortar washing out of the joints
For businesses in and around places such as Bicester Village, a written record of the roof’s condition helps you plan maintenance rather than react to leaks.
Before you book anyone
- Whether you get a written report with photos
- When you will get the report
- Whether the roof space is looked at, where there is one
- Is VAT included in the price?