Chimney faults are a frequent source of internal damp that can be mistaken for rising damp or condensation. We repair chimney stacks throughout Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset, from repointing and flashing renewal through to partial and full rebuilds.
Chimney work we carry out
- Repointing eroded or blown mortar joints
- Renewing lead flashing, soakers and back gutters
- Re-flaunching the top of the stack and re-bedding pots
- Partial or full stack rebuilds using matching brick or stone
- Fitting cowls and capping redundant flues while keeping ventilation
- Repairing damage caused by storms or lightning
Signs of a chimney problem
Damp patches on a chimney breast, staining on the ceiling around the stack, crumbling mortar you can see from the ground, vegetation growing out of the brickwork, or a visible lean — all good reasons to get a stack looked at.
Cement flashing — mortar used where lead should be — is another common fault. It cracks as the stack and roof move independently, and it'll keep cracking until it's replaced with properly dressed lead.
Repair, rebuild or remove?
If the brickwork below the roof line is sound, a rebuild from the roof up is usually straightforward. Where the stack's redundant and no longer serving a fire or flue, removing it may be the more sensible answer — and it takes away an ongoing maintenance job from the roof.
