Chimney Rebuilds

Chimney Rebuilds in Poringland

Chimney stacks on Norfolk properties take a harder battering than almost any other part of the building. They project above the roofline, face wind from all sides, and have no shelter from frost. Over time mortar joints erode, bricks spall, and the stack can develop a lean that becomes visible from the street. Left alone, a deteriorating stack is a falling hazard and will allow water into the roof structure and chimney breast below.

A chimney rebuild usually starts by erecting a scaffold to the stack so we can assess the full extent of the damage safely. We remove brickwork down to a sound, level course - sometimes that is just below the flaunching, sometimes it is further down the stack. New brickwork is laid in a mortar mix appropriate for an exposed chimney, softer than most internal mixes so it flexes slightly with temperature changes rather than cracking the bricks. Pots are re-bedded in fresh flaunching, and all lead work around the base of the stack is renewed at the same time, since disturbing the stack inevitably disturbs the flashings.

Attempting chimney repairs from a roof ladder is dangerous and rarely gives access to all four faces of the stack. Loose bricks dislodged during an inadequate repair can cause serious injury. Full scaffold, while adding to the cost, also lets us inspect the surrounding roof covering and ridge tiles while we are at height.

We work through the project in a logical sequence - scaffold up, strip and assess, agree the scope with you if it differs from the initial survey, rebuild, re-lead, scaffold down. Most single-stack rebuilds in the Poringland area take two to four days.

A full chimney stack rebuild on a typical Norfolk semi-detached or detached house in Poringland costs between £1,500 and £3,500, depending on stack height, the amount of brickwork removed, and whether new pots are included.