Chimney Repairs & Repointing in Cheltenham & Gloucestershire

Common signs that your chimney needs attention include visible cracks or gaps in the mortar joints, loose or crumbling bricks, pieces of mortar falling onto the roof or into the gutters, damp patches or water stains appearing on the chimney breast wall inside your home, and a chimney pot that is leaning or has moved out of position. If you have noticed any of these, we recommend arranging a free chimney inspection before the problem worsens.

We provide a full range of chimney repairs including chimney stack repointing, flaunching repair and replacement, lead flashing repair and renewal, chimney pot replacement, chimney cowl and cap fitting, back gutter clearance and repair, chimney brickwork repairs, and ridge tile repointing adjacent to the chimney. Our team can handle everything from minor mortar repairs to full chimney stack rebuilds.

Flaunching is the sloped mortar bed that sits on top of the chimney stack and holds the chimney pot in place. Because it is fully exposed to rain, frost and UV, flaunching cracks and deteriorates faster than most other mortar on your property. Once it begins to crack, water seeps down around the chimney pot and into the stack, causing damp inside the property. We remove the old flaunching, rebed or replace the chimney pot and apply fresh, weather-resistant mortar shaped to shed water properly.

When carried out properly using quality mortar matched to the brickwork, chimney repointing typically lasts 20 to 30 years or more depending on the exposure of the chimney and the local weather conditions. Chimneys on exposed or north-facing elevations may weather slightly faster, but a professional repointing job will provide many years of reliable protection.

It depends on the age and construction of the property. Older period properties, particularly those built before the early 1900s, were built with lime mortar and should be repointed with lime to allow the masonry to breathe and flex naturally. Using hard cement mortar on soft old bricks can cause the bricks to crack and spall. Modern properties built with engineering bricks or dense commons are suitable for standard sand-cement mortar. We always match the mortar type to your property.

Yes. Lead flashing at the junction between the chimney and the roof tiles is a very common source of leaks. Over time, the lead can crack, lift away from the brickwork or lose its seal. We re-dress existing flashings where possible, or install new code-4 or code-5 lead flashings chased into the chimney mortar joints and dressed down over the roof tiles to create a watertight seal that will last for decades.

In most cases, yes. Chimney stacks sit at the highest point of the roof, so safe access usually requires scaffolding. For some lower-level chimney work or single-storey properties, a tower scaffold or ladder access may be sufficient. We will assess access requirements during our initial inspection and include any scaffolding costs in your written quote — there are no hidden extras.

Yes. We supply and fit a range of chimney cowls, rain caps and bird guards designed to prevent rainwater from entering the flue, stop birds nesting inside the chimney, and reduce downdraught. If your chimney is no longer in use, we can also fit a capping plate that seals the pot while still allowing adequate ventilation to prevent condensation in the flue.

Yes. We provide free, no-obligation inspections and written quotes for all chimney repair and repointing work across Cheltenham and the surrounding areas. One of our experienced roofers will visit your property, inspect the chimney and brickwork, and provide a clear, detailed quotation before any work begins. Call us on 01242 309 035 or use our contact form to arrange a visit.