Chimney repointing and rebuild — restoring weathertightness and structural integrity.
Symptoms & warning signs
- Mortar joints that can be raked out with a finger or a screwdriver
- Brick faces spalling, flaking or falling away after frost
- Damp on the chimney breast that persists after the flashings have been renewed
- A stack out of plumb, twisted, or bulging on one face
- Movement or cracking visible where the stack passes through the roof line
- An unused stack that has been left unmaintained for years
Inspection & diagnosis
Every quote begins with an inspection. Where a roof is inaccessible, complex or storm-damaged, we can carry out a drone inspection to capture imagery and annotated findings before recommending works.
Typical scope of work
- Assessment of whether repointing is sufficient or a partial or full rebuild is required
- Raking out of defective joints to a proper depth — never a skim over the top
- Repointing in a mortar mix matched to the original for strength, colour and breathability
- Careful dismantling and rebuild of unsound courses, salvaging and reusing sound brick or stone
- New flaunching, pot re-seating, and capping of disused flues where appropriate
- New lead flashings, soakers and back gutter dressed into the rebuilt stack
- Making good of the surrounding roof covering and full site clearance
Timescale
Repointing a domestic stack generally takes two to three days. A partial or full rebuild typically runs from three days to a week or more, plus scaffold erection. Mortar needs dry conditions to cure, so wet spells extend the programme — we would rather wait than build in mortar that will fail.
Guarantee & aftercare
Repointing and rebuilding carry our written workmanship guarantee. We record the mortar specification used so any future work can match it, and photograph the completed stack from angles you cannot see from the ground.
Project evidence
Rebuild and repointing work is documented course by course where relevant — the condition as found, salvaged materials, the rebuilt stack and the finished leadwork.
