Here's how to tell when a stack's had its day, where the water actually gets in, what partial and full removal each involve, and how we put the roof back afterwards. We carry out this work across Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset.
Signs a redundant stack has had its day
- Mortar joints soft or missing, with pointing that crumbles when touched
- The flaunching around the pots is cracked or has broken away
- Staining or damp patches on the ceiling or wall near the breast
- Lead flashing lifted, split or patched with mastic
- Bricks spalling — faces flaking off after frost
- The stack is visibly leaning, or the pots are unstable
- No fire, stove or appliance has used it in years
Why old stacks cause damp indoors
Water gets into a failing stack in three places: down the open flue, through cracked flaunching around the pots, and through the failed joint where lead flashing meets brickwork. Once it's in, it runs down the flue or through the brick and shows up on the chimney breast, often a full storey below the roof.
That's why the damp patch so rarely sits where the leak actually is. It's also why sealing the inside of the breast rarely helps — the water's already in the structure and just finds somewhere else to show itself.
- 1Driven rain gets in at the top of the stack
- 2Cracked flaunching around the pot
- 3Open pointing and spalled brickwork
- 4Water tracks down the flue
- 5Lead flashing — another failure point
- 6Staining shows on the chimney breast below
Partial removal or full removal
Partial removal takes the stack down to just above or just below the roof line and weathers it properly. Full removal continues through the rooms below and needs structural planning. Depending on the condition and construction, repair, partial rebuilding or removal may all be options.
Full removal takes the breast out through the rooms below too, reclaiming floor space and finishing the job in one go. It's a bigger, more disruptive project, needing structural support for anything the breast was carrying, plus plastering and making good — and the structural detail needs agreeing before anyone lifts a hammer.
Retain & repair
Repoint it, re-flaunch, renew the flashing and cap it off. Keeps the roofline as built, though it does mean ongoing maintenance.
Down to roof line
We take off the exposed section and make the roof good, leaving the breast intact inside. Less disruption, and no internal work.
Full removal
Stack and breast come out completely, with structural support designed in. The biggest job, but it frees up floor space.
How we take a stack down and make the roof good
The stack comes down course by course rather than being pushed over, with debris controlled and the flue capped or removed as needed. Any brickwork left in the roof space is made stable and supported.
We then rebuild the roof where the stack passed through: rafters and battens made up, new underlay dressed in, and tiles or slates laid to match the existing covering as closely as reclaimed or matched materials allow. New leadwork or a properly weathered detail finishes it off so the roof reads as one continuous plane.
Access & protection
Scaffold up to the stack, roof and grounds protected, and a debris route planned before a single brick moves.
Take down
We take the stack down course by course rather than pushing it over, lowering brick and pot out safely.
Support & make good
The opening is framed and supported, rafters and battens made up, and underlay dressed in.
Weather the roof
Tiles or slates laid to match, leadwork or a weathered detail finished, so the roof reads as one plane.
Shared stacks, listed buildings and building control
- A stack shared with a neighbour needs their agreement, and often a party wall notice
- Listed buildings and conservation areas usually need consent before anything is removed
- Removing breast work internally is notifiable and needs structural support designed in
- Any remaining flue that is capped must still be ventilated to stay dry
- The effect on the roof line and the street scene is worth considering before you commit
Common questions
A few things homeowners often ask us about chimney removal before booking a survey or quote.
Ask us anything