A crumbling or leaning chimney is a structural risk and a source of leaks. We rebuild chimneys from the stack base upwards, using quality bricks, lime mortar and correct lead flashing to make the stack weathertight and solid again.
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Some chimneys can be saved with repointing or a new flashing. Others have deteriorated too far - the brickwork is spalling, the stack has shifted, or the mortar joints have washed out so completely that water is getting in behind the breast and into the roof space. When that is the case, a full or partial chimney rebuild is the right answer, not another patch job that will fail within a few years.
Stacks that have not been touched for many years are often well past the point of repair. We carry out full stack rebuilds from just above the roofline upwards, or full rebuilds down to the lead tray where the structure demands it.
The work starts with scaffolding. A chimney stack cannot be worked on safely from a ladder, and any contractor who suggests otherwise is cutting corners that put both your property and the worker at risk. Once the scaffold is up, we take the stack down course by course to the point where sound, stable brickwork begins.
Existing bricks are inspected. Good ones are cleaned and reused where possible. Bricks that are soft, face-blown or badly spalled are replaced with matching stock bricks. Getting the brick match right matters, particularly on older properties. We take time to source something appropriate rather than using a modern brick that stands out.
Mortar mix is important and often overlooked. Older chimneys were built with lime mortar, which is slightly flexible and breathable. Rebuilding them with hard cement mortar causes the brick faces to blow over time because the mortar is too rigid. We use the correct mortar for the age and type of brickwork in front of us.
Once the stack is rebuilt, the lead flashing is either replaced or dressed back in properly. The flashing is the seal between the stack and the roof covering, and it is very often the original source of the water ingress that caused the decay in the first place. A rebuilt stack with poorly fitted flashing will leak again. We cut stepped chases into the mortar joints to bed the lead correctly, then point over the top to lock it in place.
Pots and a new flaunching cap finish the job. Flaunching is the sloped mortar bed that holds the pots and sheds rainwater away from the stack. It cracks over time, which lets water track down inside the brickwork - this is one of the most common causes of damp patches appearing on chimney breasts inside the house.
For most domestic rebuilds in the Haverhill area, we use:
Where a chimney is no longer used and the flue is redundant, we can fit a ventilated cap over the pot rather than leaving the flue open to the weather. Capping a disused flue prevents water ingress and stops birds nesting in the stack, which causes blockages and accelerates decay from inside.
Repointing works when the bricks themselves are solid and there is a reasonable depth of mortar joint left to work with. When the joints have washed out flush with the brick faces, or when the bricks have started to delaminate or crumble, pointing over the surface achieves nothing. Water will still find its way in. A rebuild addresses the root problem rather than masking it temporarily.
A partial rebuild from just above the roof level typically costs in the region of £800 to £2,000 depending on stack size, height and access. Full rebuilds from the base of the stack are more involved and priced accordingly. Scaffolding hire is usually the biggest variable in the overall cost.
A chimney stack that has shifted or is leaning is a falling hazard. Loose brickwork at height can drop without warning. Working at that height without the right equipment is dangerous, and rebuilding a chimney incorrectly can leave you with a structure that looks sound but is not tied together properly. Stacks need to be bonded correctly course by course, with proper quoins at the corners, or the rebuild will not last.
If the chimney serves a working fireplace or wood-burning stove, the flue liner must also be in good condition. A rebuild is a good opportunity to have the liner checked or replaced if needed. If a liner is required as part of the project, it is best fitted by a registered installer.
We carry out chimney rebuilds in Haverhill and the surrounding villages and towns, including Clare, Sturmer, Steeple Bumpstead and neighbouring areas. We also work for customers in Sudbury, Halstead and the Newmarket area. Cambridge is at the outer edge of where we travel for chimney work, but we do take on jobs there for existing customers.
If you can see any of the following from the ground, it is worth having the stack looked at properly:
A chimney that looks tired from the ground is almost always worse up close. Brickwork deteriorates from the top down, and by the time decay is visible at distance, several courses are usually beyond saving.
We visit the property, inspect the stack from scaffold or from the roof where we can safely access it, and give you a clear price for the work involved. There are no estimates based on a photo from the garden - a chimney needs to be seen close up before anyone can price it accurately. Call us to arrange a survey and we will tell you exactly what the stack needs.
A chimney stack rebuilt to the correct specification with lime-compatible mortar and properly bedded lead flashing should remain sound and weathertight for several decades before it needs attention again.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
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