Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney Survey in Upper Brailes
Chimney surveys across Upper Brailes, with over 20 years’ experience behind it. You get a clear report with photographs.
- Pots or cowls that look unsafe
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Signs that a stack is leaning
How the survey works
Every roof is different; as a rough guide, the survey takes about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. You’re welcome to ask questions while we are there. For a village or hamlet like Upper Brailes, the journey is planned beforehand: let us know about lanes, gates and parking. The roof is looked at from ground level, from windows, from the loft where there’s safe access and from the roof where it is safe.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Before we arrive
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Let us know about parking near the property
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Arrange a survey
To arrange a survey, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email and let us know the address and what’s prompted the survey. You’ll know the price before anything is booked.
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Chimney survey in Upper Brailes
A chimney stands up above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. In time, flaunching cracks, mortar washes out and flashings come loose. Water then gets into the stack and can show as damp on a chimney breast or a stain in the loft. We record what we find with photographs and recommendations. If you’ve noticed staining on walls around the chimney and a chimney out of line, we can find out what’s behind it, on chimney breasts, lead flashings and chimney pots and cowls alike.
Some older homes in villages like Upper Brailes are 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. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
The written findings come by email, easy to pass on to a roofer, an agent or an insurer. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24–48 hours and Premium on the day.
- Location
- Upper Brailes (OX15)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Also near Upper Brailes
Other services in Upper Brailes
What we look for on each type of roof
Rendered stacks
What’s behind the render can’t be seen without removing some, so the report explains what we could and couldn’t assess.
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.
Tips that help
From years of surveys, a few habits stand out:
- Do not use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Keep the report to compare against at the next survey
- Note any damp on chimney breasts and when it appears
- 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’s 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.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. Reports are emailed, so they’re easy to pass on.
An agent can book and manage the survey for a landlord. Access is agreed with the tenant beforehand.
What we’re asked to look at in Upper Brailes
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We note what’s visible in the roof space and outside, and recommend a structural engineer where support is in question.
Here are some of the things we see often:
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Damaged chimney pots and cowls
- Cracked or missing flaunching
If you live in an older home near Church of St George, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first.
What to check before booking
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
- Whether the loft space is looked at, where there is one
- What the report includes, and whether it has photos
- When you will get the report
Upper Brailes: your questions answered
Do you cover smaller places like Upper Brailes?
Yes, we do. Our area covers London and South East England, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Upper Brailes?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. Listed building consent is needed for changes that affect a listed building’s special interest, and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material.
Do you test for 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 recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
How do I arrange a chimney survey in Upper Brailes?
Simply phone 07833 053749 or email us. After a few questions, we confirm the price and fix a day, weekday or weekend.
Does this replace a RICS home survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof and can sit alongside a RICS survey.
When does the report arrive?
That depends on the survey you book: Basic within 48 hours, Standard in 24–48 hours and Premium the same day. Reports are sent by email.
Can you survey in bad weather?
Some surveys depend on the weather more than others. Drones can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best with a dry roof, little wind and a sunny day beforehand. If the conditions aren’t right, we’ll talk to you about another date.
Local roofs in Upper Brailes
Listing and conservation areas can both shape what roof work is allowed on an older home. Your council and Historic England’s list will tell you where you stand, before anyone quotes for re-roofing. 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. Whatever the covering, it is often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
If you look after a building like Brailes CofE Primary School, its roofs, gutters and any chimneys need the same checks as a house’s, just on a bigger scale.
Upper Brailes is about 9 miles west of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. Bookings from Upper Brailes are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Upper Brailes is one of the places in Oxfordshire we cover for chimney surveys. You can also see our page for Oxford.
All of OX15 is within our area for chimney surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Local streets include Castle Hill, Fant Hill and Henbrook Lane. We also cover Lower Brailes (1 mile south-east) and Sutton-under-Brailes (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Banbury (9 miles east), Chipping Norton (8 miles south), Neithrop (8 miles east), Grimsbury (10 miles east), Ruscote (8 miles east) and Bloxham (8 miles east).
Near you in Upper Brailes
Around Upper Brailes, our work takes us to homes and buildings near The Gate Inn and the streets around them. Well-known places in the area include Ellen Badger Hospital (2.9 miles west). Open spaces near Upper Brailes include Castle Hill and Woodford Bottom and Lamb's Pool.
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
To price your survey, we look at:
- Commercial roofs and larger buildings
- Which survey package you book
- How many separate roofs there are, such as extensions, dormers and garages
- Building height and the viewpoints available
The cost of a survey depends on the roof: its size, its height, how many sections it has and how safely it can be seen. Our price is from £150, including VAT.
Getting in touch
There’s no need for technical words. Just let us know:
- Any photos you have, taken from ground level or a window
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- The kind of building and roof involved
- Any deadline, such as an exchange date
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or email us. We will suggest a package, agree the price and find a date.