--- title: "Chimney stack repair, repointing and flaunching" description: "Chimney repair and repointing by Topmark property maintenance. Brickwork, mortar, flaunching and pot resets across Thatcham, Newbury and Berkshire." canonical: "https://topmarkroofers.co.uk/services/chimney-repair-and-repointing" --- # Chimney stack repair, repointing and flaunching > Chimney repair and repointing by Topmark property maintenance. Brickwork, mortar, flaunching and pot resets across Thatcham, Newbury and Berkshire. Chimney repair and repointing by Topmark property maintenance secures loose brickwork and restores damaged mortar joints to prevent rainwater entering your home. ## 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. - Chimney repair and repointing: Price on request - 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. ## 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. - **Cracked mortar and crumbling bricks:** 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. - **Flaunching failure around chimney pots:** 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. - **Damaged lead flashing at the roof junction:** 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. 1. **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. 2. **Access and safety setup:** We arrange safe ladder or scaffold access to reach the stack without putting weight on adjoining roof tiles or slates. 3. **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. 4. **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. ## 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. ## 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. ### 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. ### 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. ## Business facts - Service area: Thatcham, Newbury, Tadley, Basingstoke, Reading, Didcot, Wantage, Andover, Wokingham, Abingdon-on-Thames - Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri 09:00–17:00 - Phone: +447846713949 - Email: team@topmarkroofers.co.uk ## Book Online - [Book Online](https://topmarkroofers.co.uk/#chat): Send the job details and postcode to Topmark property maintenance. ## Related pages - [Lead flashing repair](https://topmarkroofers.co.uk/services/lead-flashing-repair): Lead flashing repair and replacement. - [Roof leak repair](https://topmarkroofers.co.uk/services/roof-leak-repair): Roof leak repair and leak tracing. - [Ridge and verge repointing](https://topmarkroofers.co.uk/services/ridge-and-verge-repointing): Ridge, hip and verge repointing and rebedding. - [Roof inspection](https://topmarkroofers.co.uk/services/roof-inspection): Roof inspection and written condition report. - [Full sitemap](https://topmarkroofers.co.uk/sitemap.md): Complete machine-readable page directory.