Why chimneys let water in

A chimney stack stands proud of the roof and takes the weather on every side. Over the years the mortar between the bricks washes out, the cement capping around the pots cracks, and the lead where the stack meets the tiles lifts or splits.

Any one of those lets water run down inside the stack, and it often shows up as a damp patch on the chimney breast in a bedroom, well below where it got in.

Chimney work we do

Repointing the brickwork with fresh mortar
Renewing cracked flaunching, the sloped cement around the pots
New lead flashing and soakers where the stack meets the roof
Replacing broken or loose chimney pots
Fitting cowls and caps to keep rain and birds out of disused flues
Taking a stack down to below the roofline when it is no longer used, if that is what you want

Signs to look out for

Damp or staining on the chimney breast inside
Gaps between the bricks you can see from the ground
Bits of mortar or cement in the gutter below the stack
Lead around the base that has lifted away from the tiles
A pot that leans or rocks in the wind

Working safely at the stack

Most chimney work needs access to the top of the stack, so we'll tell you whether it needs scaffolding or a roof ladder when we quote. On a terrace or a semi with a shared stack, it helps to let your neighbour know before we start.