Chimney Repairs & Repointing | Ipswich & Colchester

Chimney repairs and repointing

Chimneys take more weather than any other part of the house. Frost breaks down the mortar, the flaunching round the pots cracks, and lead lifts. Left alone, a chimney starts letting water in, and in the worst cases bricks or pots come loose.

We repoint and repair chimney stacks, renew flaunching, fit new pots and cowls, replace lead flashing, and remove or cap chimneys that are no longer needed. Just so it's clear: we don't sweep chimneys, we repair the stack and the roof around it.

Signs your chimney needs repair

Mortar crumbling out of the joints
Cracked or missing flaunching round the pots
Damp patches on a chimney breast inside
Lead flashing lifting or split at the base
A pot or cowl that's loose, leaning or missing
Bits of brick or mortar on the roof or in the gutter

Sound familiar? Get a quote

How we do it

Done properly, step by step

01
Inspect the stack

We check the brickwork, pointing, flaunching, pots and lead.
02
Quote

A written quote covering the access needed and the work on the stack.
03
Safe access

Most chimney work needs a scaffold or a chimney access platform to do it safely.
04
Repair

Raking out and repointing, new flaunching, pots and cowls, and new lead where needed.
05
Photos

You see the stack before and after, close up.

Repointing

Repointing means raking out the old, failing mortar and replacing it with new. On older chimneys we use a mortar that suits the brick, so the brick isn't damaged as the stack moves and breathes. Done properly, repointing keeps the stack sound and watertight for many years.

Flaunching, pots and cowls

Flaunching is the sloped mortar cap round the chimney pots that throws water off the top of the stack. When it cracks, water gets straight into the stack. We renew flaunching, replace cracked pots, and fit cowls to stop birds, rain and downdraughts, including on chimneys that are being prepared for a log burner.

Taking a chimney down

If a chimney is no longer used and is in poor condition, removing it below the roof line and tiling over can be the most sensible long-term fix. We can also cap unused flues and fit vented caps so the stack stays ventilated. We'll explain the options and what needs checking first.

Prices

What affects the price

Every roof is different, so we don't put prices on a website and then add extras later. Lee looks at your roof and gives you a written quote, free, with everything included.

Get your free quote

The size and height of the stack
Scaffolding or chimney access needed to work safely
How much repointing and brickwork repair is needed
New pots, cowls, flaunching or lead
Whether the chimney is being removed or capped

Checkatrade reviews

What customers say about our chimneys work

9.81/10 from 220 verified reviews

★★★★★10/10
"I had the chimney repointed, new pot and cowl. Leigh provided a quick response with a reasonable price from the start, very simple and easy to organise the work, he turned up on time, very polite and did a great job. There's not much more you could ask from a tradesman. Highly recommended"
Chimney repointed, new pot and cowlNeedham Market area, IP6 · Checkatrade, verified
★★★★★9/10
"Very prompt response to enquiry with swift visit to assess issue and having agreed a team were on the roof within days. They worked well together in very hot conditions and carried out repointing to both chimneys as agreed in addition to the flashing replacement."
Repointed chimneys and replaced lead flashingClacton area, CO16 · Checkatrade, verified
★★★★★9.33/10
"Quick response and straight forward appraisal of what work was needed. Work carried out quickly and to good standard and cleaned up all the mess. Very good."
Pointing on the front of the houseNeedham Market area, IP6 · Checkatrade, verified

Where we work

Chimneys across Ipswich, Colchester and beyond

We're based in Colchester and cover Suffolk and north Essex. Find your area for local information and reviews, or put your postcode in the quote form.

Roofers in Ipswich Roofers in Colchester

FAQs

Chimneys: your questions

Something else? Call Lee on 07864 367325. He's happy to talk it through.

Do you sweep chimneys?

No. We repair chimney stacks and the roof around them: repointing, flaunching, pots, cowls, lead flashing and removal. You'll need a sweep for the flue itself.

How often does a chimney need repointing?

It depends on the exposure and the original mortar, but many stacks need repointing every few decades. Crumbling joints and damp on the chimney breast are the signs to look for.

Do I need scaffolding for chimney repairs?

Usually, yes. Working on a chimney safely means a proper working platform. We include it in the quote.

Can you fit a cowl for a log burner?

Yes, we fit pots and cowls. Your stove installer will confirm what the flue needs, and we'll make sure the top of the stack is sound and watertight.

Should I remove an old chimney?

If it's unused and failing, removing it below the roof line can save repeated repairs. We'll talk through the options and anything that needs checking first.

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