Signs you may need this
- Damp or brown staining on the chimney breast inside the house
- Crumbling mortar or loose, leaning bricks on the stack
- Cracked or missing flaunching at the top of the stack
- Lead flashing that has lifted, split or slipped
- Plant growth on the stack or pots, or white salt deposits on the brick
The chimney is where roofs often leak
Chimneys sit in the most exposed part of the roof, and several different materials meet there: brick, mortar, lead and tile. That combination makes them a frequent source of leaks and damp in the rooms below. The usual culprits are failed flashings, cracked flaunching and mortar that has weathered away.
What we repair
- Lead flashings and soakers. Properly dressed lead lasts decades. We replace old or failed flashings with new code-appropriate lead, fixed and dressed so they shed water and move with the roof.
- Flaunching. The sloped mortar bed that holds the pots in place and sheds water. When it cracks, water runs straight into the stack.
- Repointing. Replacing eroded mortar in the brickwork with a mortar that suits the age of the property. Using the wrong, over-hard mortar can damage soft old brick.
- Pots, cowls and cappings. Replacing damaged pots, fitting rain caps and ventilated cowls to keep out rain and birds on unused flues.
- Chimney rebuilds and removals. Where a stack is leaning or has deteriorated beyond repair, we can rebuild it or take it down below the roofline and make good. Structural work like this may need building control approval and, where a chimney breast inside is involved, a structural engineer. We will advise on what is needed.
Leadwork beyond the chimney
Lead is used wherever a roof meets a wall, around dormers and bay windows, in valleys and on small flat sections. We carry out lead flashing, valley and abutment work, and lead-covered flats and dormer cheeks. If your existing lead has been stolen, we can replace it, and we can talk you through lead-substitute products where theft is a concern.
Why a proper survey matters
A damp patch on a chimney breast is not always roof-related. Condensation, penetrating damp from the brickwork and salts from old fireplaces can look similar. We examine the stack, flashings and flaunching from the roof and check the inside before suggesting a fix, so you only pay for work that will make a difference.
Questions about chimney repairs and leadwork
Why is my chimney breast damp?
Common causes are failed flashings, cracked flaunching, crumbling mortar, a missing cap on an unused flue, or condensation inside the flue. We check the stack from above and inspect inside to identify the real cause before recommending any work.
What is flaunching?
It is the sloped mortar at the top of the chimney that holds the pots and sheds rainwater away from the flues. If it cracks or erodes, water gets into the stack and can damage the masonry and ceilings below.
Should I cap an unused chimney?
Usually yes, with a ventilated cap or cowl. It stops rain and birds getting in while still letting air through the flue, which helps prevent damp. We can fit one and check the flue is not a fire risk.
Can you take down a chimney stack?
Yes. We can take a stack down to roof level or below and make the roof good. Taking out a chimney breast inside the house is a structural job that needs appropriate advice and approval. We will explain what is involved.
How long does lead flashing last?
Well-fitted lead is one of the longest-lasting roofing materials and often serves for many decades. Failure is more often down to poor fixing, wrong thickness for the situation or movement in the building than to the metal itself.
Related advice
Where we work
We carry out chimney repairs and leadwork across Hampshire and the south of England, from our base in Farnborough to Aldershot, Fleet, Camberley, Farnham, Hook, Basingstoke, Guildford, Woking, Reading, Winchester, Andover, Alton, Southampton, Bournemouth, London. Not on the list? Call 07498170924 and we will tell you straight away.