Chimney repairs in South East London

Chimney stacks repaired and made watertight

Chimney stacks take more weather than any other part of the house. They stand proud of the roof, catch wind-driven rain on every face and rely on lead flashings and mortar that wear out long before the slates or tiles around them. Primefix Roofing & Guttering Ltd carries out a wide range of chimney repairs, including repointing, lead flashing repairs, chimney rebuilds, ridge repairs and general chimney maintenance.

Many leaks blamed on the roof start at the stack. Open mortar joints let water soak into the brickwork, a cracked flaunching on top lets rain run down inside, and lead that has lifted from its joint funnels water behind the tiles. On London terraces, a shared stack sitting on the party wall can affect two homes at once, so we look at the whole stack and explain who it affects.

We inspect from the scaffold or roof, photograph what we find and explain your options in plain terms. Some stacks need only repointing and new lead, others need the top courses rebuilding, and redundant chimneys can be capped and ventilated. You get a clear quotation covering access, materials and the work required. We also fit and repair chimney cowls to keep out birds and rain.

Chimney work is often combined with other jobs on the roof. If a stack is being repointed, it makes sense to check the slates or tiles around it, the soakers under them and the valley or back gutter behind. If the roof is being replaced, the lead around the stack should be renewed at the same time rather than reused. We plan the order so the stack is finished before the surrounding covering is laid, which gives a neater and more reliable result.