Chimney Repairs in Swindon

Why chimneys cause so many roof leaks

Swindon's Victorian and Edwardian terraces, and many inter-war and post-war houses, have brick chimney stacks that face the full force of the weather. Over time the mortar joints wash out, the sloped mortar cap at the top (the flaunching) cracks and the lead flashing where the stack meets the roof can split or pull away. Water then runs down inside the brickwork, showing up as damp patches on the chimney breast, stains in the loft or peeling paint.

Common chimney jobs

• Repointing: raking out failed mortar and repointing the stack. Older buildings should be repointed with a lime-based mortar rather than hard cement, which can trap moisture.
• Flaunching: replacing the cracked mortar around the pots.
• Lead flashing: renewing the flashing, back gutter and soakers where the stack meets the slope.
• Pots, cowls and caps: fitting caps or ventilated cowls on unused flues to keep rain and birds out while allowing airflow; fitting bird guards.
• Rebuilding: where a stack is leaning, cracked or badly eroded, it may need taking down and rebuilding above the roof line.
• Removal: taking a redundant stack down below the roof line and tiling over. Never remove a chimney breast inside without checking with Building Control and getting the support done properly; shared stacks on terraces may also involve the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.

Safety and access

Chimney work almost always needs scaffolding or a properly secured chimney scaffold. If you're in a conservation area or the building is listed, removing or altering a chimney may need consent, so check with Swindon Borough Council first. If you use the fireplace or a wood burner, have the flue swept and checked separately by a qualified sweep or installer.

Related: roof repairs for leaks elsewhere on the roof, and emergency roof repairs if bricks or pots are loose after a storm.