Roofing
Chimney repairs
Re-pointing, re-leading, rebuilds and safe removals.
Chimneys take more weather than any other part of the house. They stand proud of the roof on all four sides, and when the pointing goes or the lead lifts, water gets in and shows up as a damp patch on a bedroom wall.
Chimney work we carry out
Re-pointing
Old mortar raked out and replaced with a mix suited to the brick. On older soft brickwork that means lime, not cement, which is harder than the brick and does more damage than it prevents.
Re-leading
Failed flashings, soakers and back gutters stripped out and formed in new lead to code. Sealant over old lead is a temporary fix at best.
Rebuilds
Where a stack has moved, cracked or lost its bond, we take it down to a sound course and rebuild, reusing the original brick where it is in good enough condition.
Pots, cowls and capping
New pots, bird guards and cowls fitted, and redundant stacks properly capped so they stay ventilated instead of trapping damp inside.
Removals
Stacks that are no longer used and no longer worth maintaining can be taken down to roof level and the roof made good over the top.
Our process
- Get up and look. A chimney cannot be assessed from the ground. We get eyes on it and photograph what we find.
- Work out where the water is getting in. Pointing, lead, pot or capping. It is usually one of the four and it is worth knowing which before spending money.
- Do the repair. With the right mortar mix and new lead where lead has failed.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my bedroom wall damp near the chimney?
Nearly always the flashing or the pointing on the stack. Water gets into the brickwork or runs down behind failed lead and tracks inside. It very rarely fixes itself and it gets worse each winter.
Should I just take the chimney down?
If it is redundant and in poor condition, removal can be cheaper than repair and it removes the maintenance for good. If it is in use, or the house looks wrong without it, repair is the answer. We will price both.
Do you need scaffold for chimney work?
For anything beyond a very minor repair, yes. Working on a stack safely needs a proper platform. The cost is in the quote from the start, not added later.
What is a bird guard for?
It stops birds nesting in the flue, which blocks it and is a real fire and fume risk on a working chimney. It is a small part fitted while we are already up there.
Recent work
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