Chimney Repairs That Make Your Stack Safe and Watertight

It depends on the height and pitch of the roof. For single-storey extensions or low ridgelines we can often work safely from a ladder or a small tower scaffold. For two-storey or taller stacks — which is the majority of terraced and semi-detached houses in Burton upon Trent — a full chimney scaffold is required by law under Working at Height Regulations. We include scaffold cost in our quote upfront so you're never hit with a surprise charge.

A properly executed repoint using the correct mortar mix for the age and style of the brickwork should last anywhere between 20 and 30 years under normal weathering conditions in the East Midlands. The key is using a mortar that's no harder than the surrounding bricks — over-specification with a strong OPC cement causes bricks to spall and face-blow, which is far more expensive to fix. We select the mix to match your stack, not just reach for the nearest bag.

Yes, and this is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed problems we deal with. Failed lead flashing at the chimney-to-roof junction allows water to track down the stack and into the room below — it often appears directly above the fireplace breast. Cracked flaunching and open mortar joints also allow rainwater to travel inside the stack itself. If your damp patch follows heavy rain and is localised to the chimney breast area, call us for a free survey before spending money elsewhere.

Absolutely. Pot replacement is one of the most common standalone jobs we carry out in Burton upon Trent and the surrounding villages. We lift the old pot, break off the failed flaunching back to sound masonry, lay a fresh mortar bed, and set the new pot with a full haunch. As long as the underlying brickwork is sound, there's no need to disturb the rest of the stack. We carry a range of standard terracotta and buff roll-top pots to match common local house types.

In most cases, yes. A disused chimney stack that's open to the elements will continue to deteriorate — loose mortar falls onto the roof, damp tracks into the wall, and eventually the stack becomes a structural liability. Capping the pots with a ventilated cap and repointing the stack is far cheaper than a partial or full rebuild later. If the stack is in very poor condition and you have no intention of ever using the fireplace, a full removal to below roof level is sometimes the most cost-effective long-term solution, and we can advise on both options.

Most standard repointing and flashing jobs take between one and two days once we're on site. Pot replacement on its own can often be completed within half a day. A full or partial stack rebuild is a larger project — typically two to four days depending on height and access. Scaffold erection and striking adds time either side of the repair work itself. We'll give you a realistic programme as part of your written quote so you can plan accordingly.

Yes. All chimney repair work carried out by 5 Star Home Improvement is covered by a written workmanship guarantee. The specific duration depends on the scope of the job — we'll confirm the exact terms in your written quotation. Materials used are sourced from recognised trade suppliers, and where we specify breathable water repellents or specialist flashings we use products from manufacturers who back their own materials with independent guarantees.