Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Upper Basildon Chimney Survey
A careful look at the chimney stack at your property in Upper Basildon, with photographs and a written report.
- Signs that a stack is leaning
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Staining on walls around the chimney
What we look for on each type of roof
Chimney breasts and the loft
If a chimney breast has been removed below, we note what we can see of the support above. Confirming the support is a job for a structural engineer.
Lead flashings
Lead flashings seal the joint between the stack and the roof. The survey looks at whether the lead is tight, sound and well fixed.
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in Upper Basildon
A leaning chimney stack is worth having looked at. A stack may lean because the mortar on one side has weakened, which can happen over many years of use. We record the lean and the condition of the brickwork and pointing. Where it may be a structural concern, we’ll recommend a structural engineer. Common reasons to book are staining on walls around the chimney and gaps where the stack meets the roof, across brick chimney stacks, chimney breasts and chimney pots and cowls.
In a village or hamlet like Upper Basildon, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few 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. On older roofs, it is typically the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
We write the report in plain English, so you don’t need to be a roofer to follow it. Photographs show what each point refers to, with the urgent items made clear.
- Where
- Upper Basildon (RG8)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
How it works
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available. Most surveys take between one and two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. Older roofs in small places like Upper Basildon can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- First you let us know about the chimneys, any damp on the chimney breasts and any worries.
- The stacks are looked at from ground level, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- Every part we can see is looked at: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings.
- Where there is safe access, we check the stack in the loft and the chimney breasts for damp.
- The findings are written up with photographs and recommendations and emailed to you.
Before the survey
- Note where any stains or damp appear
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
Book a survey
If you are buying, it helps to book soon after your offer is accepted, so there is time to use the report before exchange. Otherwise, simply ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email whenever suits you.
Related advice
Landlords, agents and block managers in Upper Basildon
A roof problem in a let property affects your tenants as well as the building. A survey shows what needs attention, so you can plan the work with less disruption.
Letting agents frequently book on a landlord’s behalf. We agree a time with the tenant beforehand.
What you can safely check yourself
After strong wind, take a look from the pavement or garden: 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.
A lot can be seen from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
Upper Basildon: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like Upper Basildon?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and the South East, and smaller places are part of that. Longer journeys are simply planned ahead of time.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Upper Basildon?
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 a structural engineer’s report?
No. Our survey isn’t a structural engineer’s report, and it doesn’t include calculations. We’ll recommend an engineer if we see signs that call for one.
How do I book a survey in Upper Basildon?
Simply ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones cannot fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. We will rearrange with you if the weather isn’t right.
How long will you be at the property?
It normally takes roughly 1–2 hours for most houses, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. The written report follows by email.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. We can flag materials that might contain asbestos, but only a specialist asbestos surveyor can confirm it. It may be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Upper Basildon homes and their roofs
West Oxfordshire’s older buildings often carry Cotswold stone slates, and a few villages in the county keep their thatch. Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates. On roofs like these, good slates or tiles can outlast the nails, battens, lead and mortar around them. Basildon Park, about 1.4 miles north-east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Upper Basildon. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Take a building like Basildon C.E. Primary School: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time. If you live in an older home near St Stephen's Church, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. For landlords with property near Pangbourne station, a roof report helps you deal with small faults before they turn into a call from a tenant.
Upper Basildon is about 7 miles north-east of Thatcham, in Oxfordshire. Roofs in Upper Basildon get the same thorough look as anywhere else in Oxfordshire. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Reading.
Postcode districts we cover here for chimney surveys: RG8. You will find streets such as Aldworth Road, Beckfords and Emery Acres, all of which we cover. We also cover New Town (1 mile south-east), Stubbles (1 mile west), Ashampstead (2 miles west), Ashampstead Green (2 miles west) and Burnt Hill (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Didcot (10 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (15 miles north-west), Wantage (14 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (11 miles east), Grove (15 miles north-west) and Benson (10 miles north).
Near you in Upper Basildon
We work in homes and buildings around St Andrew's School and The Red Lion pub and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Pangbourne station, roughly 2.3 miles east. Other landmarks nearby include Yattendon Castle (2.9 miles south-west). Not far away are Hartslock.
Towns and villages near Upper Basildon
Also in Upper Basildon
What happens if roof problems are left?
A loose pot or brick can fall from height. Finding them early means they can be dealt with before they come down by a suitable contractor. Around Upper Basildon, older homes frequently have old roof timbers, where water from a failed roof can cause rot if it is left.
For a price for your roof in Upper Basildon, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form and let us know about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why us?
- Insured for professional indemnity and public liability
- CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID)
- More than 20 years surveying roofs
- 5,000+ roofs surveyed
Take a look at what a roof survey costs and what we found on two real jobs.
Prices for chimney surveys in Upper Basildon
When we price a survey, we consider:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- Roof area
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how it can be reached and seen safely. Chimney survey starts from £150, including VAT.
What to let us know when you contact us
These details help when you contact us:
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- What’s prompted the survey
- Anything about access we should know
- What kind of property and roof it is
For a price for chimney surveys in Upper Basildon, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you need to know help us give you an accurate price.