Chimney Rebuilds

Chimney Rebuilds in Dereham

Chimney stacks are one of the most exposed parts of any property. Sitting above the roofline with no shelter, they face freeze-thaw cycles every winter, driving rain from the east, and the gradual erosion of lime mortar joints over decades. When pointing fails, water gets into the brickwork, freezes, and spalls the face off individual bricks. Left long enough, the stack can lean or develop structural cracks that make it a genuine danger.

A chimney rebuild starts with an assessment of how far down the deterioration extends. In many cases, the stack from the flaunching — the sloped mortar cap around the pots — down to the flashing line can be rebuilt in matching brick, with new pots set in fresh flaunching and the leadwork below replaced at the same time. Where the brickwork below the roofline is also compromised, we rebuild from the attic floor or from the ridge line depending on the extent of the damage. We use a hydraulic lime mortar for repointing and rebuilding on older properties, which matches the flexibility of the original construction and avoids the damage that hard cement mortars cause to aged brickwork.

Chimney work requires safe working at height. We erect a proper scaffold or chimney scaffold wherever the stack height or condition makes it necessary — which on a standard two-storey Norfolk house is almost always. Attempting to inspect or repair a chimney from a ladder is dangerous and rarely gives enough access to do the job properly.

We inspect before quoting and take photos so you can see exactly what we're looking at. Most chimney rebuilds from the flashing line up are completed in one to two days once scaffold is in place.

Chimney rebuilds in Dereham from the flashing line typically cost between £800 and £2,000, depending on stack height, brick type, access, and whether new leadwork is required at the same time.