Chimney repairs & repointing

Most chimney problems start at the top. The flaunching – the mortar bed that holds the pots and throws water off the stack – cracks and breaks up, and rain finds its way straight down into the brickwork. From the ground you might notice loose or missing mortar, pots leaning, damp patches on the chimney breast indoors, or bits of mortar in the gutter.

I repoint chimney stacks in a mortar matched to the original brickwork – on period properties that means lime, not hard cement, so the stack can breathe and dry out properly. Where the flaunching has failed I take it off and re-form it, reset loose pots, and replace any spalled or frost-damaged bricks. If a stack has gone too far, I can take it down and rebuild it to match.

Access is the main cost on chimney work, so I’ll look at the stack properly and tell you honestly what it needs. I arrange the scaffolding, and if other brickwork on the house needs attention it often makes sense to do it while the scaffold is up. See also lime mortar repointing and full facade restoration.