Chimney stack repair, repointing and flaunching
Chimney repair and repointing by Topmark property maintenance secures loose brickwork and restores damaged mortar joints to prevent rainwater entering your home.
Where a stack lets water in
- A chimney stack takes the full force of Berkshire weather, sitting exposed above the roofline where wind and rain drive into aging mortar joints and cracked flaunching.
- Frost and rain erode lime and cement mortar between chimney bricks. Once rainwater enters the joints, winter freezes push the bricks apart, causing internal damp along the breast inside houses in Thatcham and Newbury.
- The concrete flaunching at the top of the stack holds the chimney pots firm and sheds rainwater away. When it splits, water flows down the flue or into the core of the masonry.
- Where the brickwork meets the roof tiles or slates, worn lead soakers and cover flashings allow run-off to slip underneath, rotting roof battens and dampening ceiling plaster below.
Work carried out on a stack
Our chimney work focuses on keeping the masonry sound, the pots secure and rainwater outside your property.
Included where the stack needs it
- Raking out loose, cracked and perished mortar joints
- Repointing exposed brickwork with weather-resistant mortar
- Removing loose or cracked mortar flaunching from the stack crown
- Applying fresh concrete flaunching shaped to shed rainwater
- Resetting loose chimney pots firmly into position
- Replacing damaged or blown exterior brickwork
Priced as separate work
- Full chimney stack removal down to ground level
- Internal flue relining or chimney sweeping
- Structural alterations to internal chimney breasts or lintels
Deciding what the stack needs
We check the chimney from roof level to understand how far weathering or damp has penetrated the masonry.
- 01
Visual check and assessment
We inspect the brick courses, check the mortar joints for depth of erosion, examine the condition of the flaunching and test whether pots are loose in their beds.
- 02
Access and safety setup
We arrange safe ladder or scaffold access to reach the stack without putting weight on adjoining roof tiles or slates.
- 03
Cleaning back and repointing
We rake out perished mortar cleanly to a sound depth, clear dust and debris, and repoint using mortar suited to your property's age and brick type.
- 04
Capping and clearing
We rebed the pots in fresh flaunching sloped to push water away from the stack, clearing away all chipped mortar and broken brick debris from the roof and gutters.
Chimney work pricing
We assess the stack from ground level or roof access before quoting for masonry repairs. Every chimney requires an individual quote based on access and condition.
- Quotes cover raking out defective mortar, repointing joints, resetting pots and replacing broken flaunching.
- Scaffolding or specialised access equipment is quoted separately where standard ladders and roof ladders are unsuitable.
- Rebuilding below the roof line or structural timber replacement is quoted separately if interior decay is discovered.
Once the stack is repaired
Repairs stop moisture entering the fabric of your building and keep the stack structurally stable in high winds.
- Water shed at the top
- A solid crown of new flaunching slopes cleanly toward the outer edge, casting driving rain away from the flues and stack core instead of letting water pool.
- Closed joints
- Freshly pointed mortar lines seal the gaps between courses, stopping rain penetration and preventing frost from cracking the brick faces during winter.
- Steady pots
- Chimney pots sit square and embedded firmly in fresh mortar, preventing movement during gales and keeping debris from falling into the fireplace below.
- A clear base
- Gutter valleys, roof tiles and lead flashings around the base of the chimney remain completely clear of dislodged mortar chips and loose brick fragments.
Why book our chimney repair services
We inspect chimney stacks thoroughly to find the true cause of roof damp before starting work. Our work addresses deteriorated flaunching, perished mortar and loose pots so your stack remains weatherproof through wet winters.
Recent work from Topmark property maintenance
These photographs show work completed across the wider service area covered by Topmark property maintenance; they are not all presented as chimney repair and repointing work.
Chimney repairs across Berkshire and Hampshire
Based in Thatcham, we carry out chimney stack repairs and repointing within twenty miles, serving Newbury, Tadley, Basingstoke, Reading, Didcot, Wantage, Andover, Wokingham and Abingdon-on-Thames.
Chimney questions
Common questions about chimney repairs, repointing and maintenance for homeowners across Berkshire.
How do I know if my chimney stack needs repointing?+
Look for mortar sand collecting in your gutters, visible gaps between bricks, moss growing in joints or damp staining on ceilings around the chimney breast inside.
— Thomas
What is chimney flaunching?+
Flaunching is the angled mortar or concrete bed at the top of a chimney stack. It holds the chimney pots in place and directs rainwater off the top of the brickwork.
— Thomas
Do you need scaffolding to repair a chimney?+
Small repairs on accessible roof slopes can often be completed from specialised roof ladders. Taller stacks, steep pitches or major rebuilding work require scaffolding to work safely.
Can cracked chimney pots be replaced during repointing?+
Yes. If a pot is fractured or missing, we can fit a replacement chimney pot and bed it into the fresh flaunching while carrying out the masonry work.
How does chimney damp travel inside the house?+
Water penetrates porous or open mortar joints during prolonged rain. It then soaks downward through the brickwork core and shows as brown stains on interior plaster.
Book a chimney inspection
Our phone is answered at any time of day or night. To arrange a visit to inspect your chimney stack, assess damp issues or quote for repointing, simply Book Online.