Chimney repairs in Nottinghamshire,done from a platform,not a scaffold tower.
Crumbling pointing, loose pots and leaking flashing fixed in one visit. No scaffold hire, no weeks of waiting, and a 5-year guarantee on the repair.
The service
What chimney repair involves
A chimney stack is the most exposed part of most houses. It takes wind and rain from every side, and it sits at the highest point, where faults are hardest to see from the ground. Chimney repair covers re-pointing the brickwork, re-bedding or replacing chimney pots, renewing the flaunching (the mortar cap the pots sit in) and repairing the lead flashing where the stack meets the roof.
It is for anyone with a chimney: in use or not. Disused stacks still need maintaining, because a neglected stack leaks just as readily and is more likely to drop masonry onto the roof below.
Common signs you need a chimney repair: damp patches on the chimney breast inside, staining on the ceiling next to the stack, mortar or brick fragments in the gutter, a pot that has started to lean, or visible gaps in the pointing when you look up from the street.
Chimney work traditionally means scaffolding, often costing more than the repair itself. Working from a tracked cherry picker, Dennis reaches the stack directly, with a guarded platform alongside the brickwork, so the repair can be completed without that expense.
If it's left
Why chimney faults get expensive quickly
Open joints in the brickwork let water soak into the stack. In winter, that water freezes and expands, pushing bricks apart and blowing their faces off. Each freeze-thaw cycle makes the gaps bigger, so the rate of decay speeds up the longer it is left.
Cracked flaunching lets water run down the inside of the stack. Failed flashing lets it run straight into the roof void. Both show up as damp on chimney breasts and ceilings, often well away from the actual fault.
A loose pot or unstable stack is also a safety issue. Falling masonry can break roof tiles, damage cars and injure people below. Leaving it until it is visibly leaning turns a straightforward re-bed into a partial rebuild.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating damp on the chimney breast as a plastering problem when the cause is outside.
- Ignoring a disused chimney because the fire is never lit.
- Covering cracked flaunching with a skim of mortar that falls off the next winter.
- Booking scaffolding before getting a quote that includes cherry picker access.
- Replacing pots without addressing the flaunching they sit in.
How it works
From first call to finished job
- Step 1
Free quote
Describe the problem or send a photo. Dennis prices the job: site visits to look are free.
- Step 2
Assessment before set-up
The job is assessed first: where the platform can sit, ground conditions and access to the stack.
- Step 3
Close inspection of the stack
From the platform, the pointing, pots, flaunching and flashing are checked so the whole cause is fixed, not just the obvious part.
- Step 4
Repair
Re-pointing, pot re-bedding or replacement, flaunching renewal and lead work as needed.
- Step 5
Completion and guarantee
Debris is cleared from the roof and gutters, and the repair carries a 5-year guarantee against material failure or improper installation.
Why it matters
What you get
Scaffold-free
Avoid scaffold hire and the wait for a scaffolding crew: the platform is set up on the day.
Safe, stable access
A guarded platform beside the stack is safer than working from roof ladders, for Dennis and for your tiles.
Stops internal damp
Fixing the stack stops water reaching chimney breasts, ceilings and loft timbers.
Prevents falling masonry
Secured pots and sound pointing remove the risk of debris coming down onto the roof or the drive.
5-year guarantee
Chimney repairs are covered for 5 years against material failure or improper installation.
Direct contact
You deal with Dennis from quote to completion.
In detail
Chimney repairs in detail
Chimneys fail in predictable ways. Knowing which part has failed is what makes a repair last.
Re-pointing chimney brickwork
Old, crumbling mortar is raked out to a sound depth and replaced with new mortar finished to suit the existing joints. On older properties, the mortar is kept compatible with the brick so the stack can still breathe.
Chimney pots and flaunching
Pots are lifted, old flaunching removed and a new mortar cap formed so rainwater runs off the top of the stack rather than into it. Cracked or broken pots can be replaced, and pots on disused flues can be capped.
Lead flashing
The step and apron flashing where the stack meets the roof is a frequent leak point. Lead that has lifted, split or slipped is re-dressed or replaced and the joints re-pointed.
Disused chimneys
A stack that is no longer used still needs to be weathertight. Capping and maintaining it keeps it from becoming a source of damp.
Terraced and semi-detached homes
Shared stacks are common across Newark and Nottinghamshire. Access from the front or rear is usually possible with the compact tracked machine, even where gardens are only reachable through a narrow gate.
Why access decides the cost of chimney work
On most chimney jobs, the repair itself is only part of the bill. The rest is getting a safe working position next to the stack. Traditional scaffolding means a crew to erect it, hire charges while it stands and a second visit to take it down. A tracked cherry picker is set up on the day of the repair and leaves when the job is done, so you are paying for the work rather than the structure around it.
Because the platform positions Dennis right beside the brickwork, he can see the whole stack: all four faces, the top and the junction with the roof, rather than just the side facing a ladder. That matters, because chimney leaks often come from a face you can't see from the street.
Chimneys after storms
High winds are hard on stacks. Pots can be loosened, flaunching cracked and flashing lifted in a single storm. If you have noticed debris on the roof or in the garden after bad weather, it is worth having the stack checked before the next spell of rain. Bear in mind that the guarantee does not cover damage caused by extreme weather, so a check after a storm is about catching new damage early.
Signs to look for from the ground
You can spot many chimney problems without going up. Look for a pot that is no longer upright, dark patches on the brickwork that stay wet after rain, plants growing from joints, mortar fragments in the gutter, or lead that is visibly lifted where the stack meets the tiles. Inside, damp on the chimney breast, peeling wallpaper or stains on the ceiling near the stack are all worth reporting when you call.
Covering Newark and up to 40–50 miles around, including chimney repairs in Nottingham, chimney repairs in Lincoln, chimney repairs in Grantham, chimney repairs in Mansfield, chimney repairs in Retford, chimney repairs in Leicester, chimney repairs in Oakham, chimney repairs in Stamford. See all areas we cover.
Questions
Chimney repairs: frequently asked questions
How much does chimney repair cost?
Every stack is different, so prices are quoted per job. Quotes are free, call or send the form. Not paying for scaffolding usually makes a significant difference to the total.
How long does a chimney repair take?
Many chimney repairs are completed in a single visit, because there is no scaffolding to put up or take down.
Is there a guarantee?
Yes. Chimney repairs carry a 5-year guarantee covering material failure or improper installation. It does not cover damage from lack of care or extreme weather.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
Most often water is entering through open pointing, cracked flaunching or failed flashing. A close inspection from the platform identifies which.
Do you need scaffolding for chimney work?
Usually not. The cherry picker reaches up to 18 metres working height, which covers most chimney stacks, provided ground conditions are suitable.
Can you repair a chimney in an emergency?
There is no 24/7 emergency service, but you can call anytime. If a pot or masonry is loose, say so and the job will be prioritised where possible.
Do you cover my area?
Newark and up to 40–50 miles around, including Nottingham, Lincoln, Grantham, Mansfield, Retford, Leicester, Oakham and Stamford.
Are you insured for chimney work?
Yes, £5 million public liability insurance. The machine has an in-date LOLER certificate and is serviced every 12 months.
Can you inspect my chimney before quoting?
Yes. A site visit to look at the job is free. If the machine is needed for a closer inspection, the minimum hire charge applies. A full report with photos is also available through the roof survey service.
Do you also repair the roof around the chimney?
Yes. Roof repairs and maintenance are the main service, so tiles, flashing and ridges around the stack can be dealt with on the same visit.
Related services
Roof repairs & maintenance
Slipped tiles, ridges, flashing and pointing, fixed before a small leak becomes a big bill.
Roof repairs & maintenance servicesRoof surveys & inspections
Roof and high-level inspections with photos and a detailed report recommending the action to take.
Roof surveys & inspections servicesHigh-level painting
Proper prep first, then the paint, at any height up to 18m.
High-level painting servicesGet your chimney sound and dry, in one visit.
Free quotes. Every job assessed before setting up. £5 million public liability insurance. Call anytime; weekend jobs taken.