Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Wootton, Oxfordshire
A survey of chimney stacks, pots, flashings and flaunching in Wootton, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Cracked or missing flaunching
What this survey cannot tell you
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. Other limits to bear in mind:
- Checks on boilers, fires or their flues
- Parts of the stack that cannot be seen safely or belong to a neighbour we cannot access
- A structural engineer’s assessment
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will tell you before booking. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
What this survey covers
- Flaunching
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Lead flashings
How a chimney survey works in Wootton
If a chimney looks out of line, it is worth getting it checked. 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. If the stack looks like a structural issue, the report recommends a structural engineer. Common reasons to book are loose, cracked or missing pots and damp patches on chimney breasts, on chimney pots and cowls, lead flashings and chimney breasts.
In a village or hamlet like Wootton, older cottages and farmhouses often sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, often with chimneys that have stood a long time. Each needs checking in its own way, and thatch is a specialist material we report on as far as it can be seen. On older roofs, it’s normally the chimneys and lead flashings that need work first.
Where we cannot see part of the chimney stack, the report says so. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Where
- Wootton (OX20)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Leave it or get it looked at?
Loose pots and bricks on a stack are a safety concern. Finding them early means they can be dealt with before they come down by a roofer. For older village homes like those around Wootton, the right replacement materials aren’t always easy to find quickly. Spotting a problem early leaves room to find them.
For a price for your roof in Wootton, ring 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
What you get with us
- Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
- 98% of clients satisfied
- A written report with photos
- Visits on any day of the week
Read what a roof survey costs or two real surveys.
Different roofs, different checks
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. Cracks are photographed and noted.
Flaunching
Flaunching takes the worst of the weather. We look for cracks, gaps around the pots and missing pieces.
Wootton homes and their roofs
Cotswold stone slates are found on older buildings in west Oxfordshire, and thatch survives in some of the county’s villages. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles. Each of these coverings has its own weak points, from fixings and valleys to flashings, chimneys and gutters. Blenheim Palace, about 2.5 miles south, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Wootton. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
If you own one of the older houses in the streets near Church of St Mary, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. If you let a flat or house near Tackley station, a dated record of the roof is useful when planning maintenance across a let. Anyone responsible for a site like Wootton-By-Woodstock Church of England Primary School will know that a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Wootton is about 5 miles north-west of Kidlington, in Oxfordshire. We cover Wootton and the rest of Oxfordshire. Wootton is one of the towns and villages in Oxfordshire we cover for chimney surveys. We also survey roofs in Oxford.
Every address in OX20 is within our area for chimney surveys. That includes homes and businesses on Top Lane, Tew Lane and Mill Lane. Other places close to Wootton include Glympton (1 mile north-west), Woodstock (2 miles south), Bunkers Hill (3 miles south-east), Tackley (3 miles east) and Shipton-on-Cherwell (3 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Oxford (10 miles south-east), Banbury (13 miles north), Bicester (9 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles south), Witney (8 miles south-west) and Carterton (12 miles south-west).
Local landmarks in Wootton
In Wootton, that means homes and buildings near Killingworth Castle pub and Marlborough School, among other places. For rail, the closest station is Tackley station, about 2.9 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum (2.1 miles south). The countryside around Wootton includes Blenheim Farm.
What you can safely check yourself
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Look up at the roof after a storm, from ground level: 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.
What a survey costs
A few things affect what a survey costs:
- The shape of the roof and its details
- Basic, Standard or Premium
- Whether it is a home or a commercial building
- How big the roof is
Prices quoted always include VAT, and the report is not charged as an extra. Our price is from £150, including VAT. Where your roof sits in the range depends on its size, height and access.
Booking your survey
A little information up front helps. Please include:
- Any marks or damp showing indoors
- What kind of property and roof it is
- What’s prompted the survey
- Anything about access we should know
Not sure which survey you need? The easiest way is to call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and describe the roof and why you want it surveyed. We’ll explain the options and the price.
Your questions about chimney surveys in Wootton
Is Wootton within the area you cover?
Yes. Wootton is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. Our area covers London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when booking.
Is my home in Wootton listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It’s worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Do you inspect the flue?
No. It is not a flue, sweep or gas safety inspection. We check the structure and weathering of the stack and any damp and flag anything that suggests the flue needs a look.
Can you find out why my chimney breast is damp?
Damp on a chimney breast usually 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.
Is this an asbestos survey?
No. Asbestos surveys and testing are not part of what we do. If we see materials that could contain asbestos, such as cement roof sheets or soffits on buildings from before 2000, we flag them, and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before they’re disturbed.
Do you climb onto every roof?
Only when it is safe. Safe viewpoints, the loft space and a drone where applicable cover most of what’s needed.
Can you survey at the weekend?
Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends. To arrange a date, ring 07833 053749 or email us.
What happens on the day
Before we start, tell us why you’ve booked: a purchase, a leak, a storm, new work or simply peace of mind. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. Most visits take about 1–2 hours at a house, as part of a look at the roof around the stack. Older rural homes like those around Wootton can have a main roof, lower lean-to roofs and outbuildings all joined together. Each part is looked at from wherever it can be seen safely.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- The stacks are looked at from ground level, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access.
- The findings are written up with photos and recommendations and emailed to you.
Before we arrive
- Clear the way to the loft hatch
- Jot down any questions you want answered
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
Getting a price
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we’ll ask about the building and what you need. The price is agreed before a date is set.