Service
Chimney Repointing
Chimney repointing, partial rebuilds and full waterproofing — done by roofers who actually understand brickwork, mortar mixes and lead. Failing chimneys are one of the top three causes of internal damp in older UK homes and almost always go undiagnosed until plaster starts coming off the wall.
What's included
- Full chimney repointing with lime, NHL or cement mortar matched to the brick age
- Partial and full chimney rebuilds (above and below the roofline)
- Clay and concrete pot replacement
- Stainless and galvanised cowl installation (anti-downdraught, bird/squirrel guards)
- New code 4 & 5 lead step, soaker, apron and back gutter flashing
- Full chimney removal and weathering-in where redundant
A chimney stack is one of the most exposed parts of any roof — wind-driven rain hits it from all sides, freeze-thaw cycles attack the mortar, and the lead flashing where it meets the roof is constantly being moved by thermal expansion. Most pre-1980 chimneys in Hampshire and Dorset are now well past the design life of their original mortar.
We assess every chimney from the ground first (binoculars or drone), then up close. The mortar mix specified for repointing matters: a Victorian brick chimney repointed in modern OPC cement will trap moisture and accelerate brick face decay — we use lime or NHL mortars on heritage stacks and matched cement-based mixes only on post-1960s brickwork.
Where the upper courses are too far gone to repoint, we carefully take down the stack to a sound course, salvage what bricks we can, and rebuild using matching reclaimed or new bricks. Pots are re-bedded in flaunching, cowls fitted where required, and full new lead is dressed and pointed in to the surrounding roof. Done properly, a rebuilt chimney lasts a hundred years.
Warning signs
When you should call us in
- Damp staining on the chimney breast inside the house
- Bricks visibly spalling or face-eroded above the roofline
- Mortar joints recessed, soft, or missing chunks
- Visible lean to the stack
- Pots wobbling or already missing
How we work
Our process, step by step
- 1Inspection
Close inspection from scaffold or tower, photo report, condition assessment.
- 2Specification
Right mortar mix for the brick age, scope of repoint vs rebuild agreed and quoted.
- 3Works
Rake out, repoint or rebuild, repoint flaunching, dress lead — all to standard.
- 4Sign-off
Photo handover, written guarantee, scaffold strike, site clean.
Frequently asked
Chimney Repointing questions, answered honestly.
Does my chimney need lime mortar?
If the bricks are pre-1920 and soft-fired (most Victorian and Edwardian chimneys), yes — modern cement mortar will damage them. Post-war stacks generally take a 1:1:6 cement-lime-sand mix.
How long does repointing last?
A properly raked-out, correctly specified repoint should last 60–80 years on a chimney stack. Quick smear-pointing over old mortar lasts 5 years if you're lucky.
Can you remove a chimney we no longer use?
Yes — we can take the stack down to roof level (or all the way down) and weather in the roof so it's invisible. Building control sign-off where required.
Verified customer reviews
What customers say about our roofing work.
Hampshire and Dorset homeowners on the work Mike and the team have carried out for them.
"Storm Isha took a dozen tiles off our roof on a Sunday afternoon. Mike answered the phone himself, was on site within two hours, tarped the whole side that night and had the permanent repair done the following Tuesday. He showed me photos before and after, talked me through the insurance claim, and didn't take a penny until I was happy. You don't get service like that any more."
"We had three roofers quote for stripping and re-covering our 1970s detached. Mike was the only one who actually got up on the roof with a ladder, lifted tiles, checked the battens and showed me where the felt had perished. His quote wasn't the cheapest but it was the only honest one. The job took five days, the skip was emptied daily, and the lads even hoovered the loft when they were done."
"Re-roofed our 1930s semi in natural Welsh slate. Mike sourced reclaimed slates that matched the next-door neighbour's roof exactly so the terrace still looks uniform. The leadwork around the chimney is a piece of art. Two of our neighbours have already booked him in."
"Our extension flat roof had been patched four times by the original builder and still leaked. Mike stripped it back to the deck, found rotten OSB nobody had mentioned, replaced it, upgraded the insulation and installed a one-piece EPDM membrane. Two heavy storms since and not a drop. Fair price, immaculate finish."
"Damp patch on the chimney breast turned out to be failed flashing and 60-year-old mortar. Mike rebuilt the top three courses, fitted new code 5 lead step flashing and repointed the whole stack. He even rebedded a wobbly pot I hadn't asked about, no extra charge. A proper tradesman."
"Two surveyors had told us our house was unmortgageable because of the spray foam in the loft. Mike removed the lot in three days, gave us a full written report with photos of every rafter, and the next surveyor signed it off without a fuss. Sale completed last week. Genuinely life-changing service."
Free roof inspection · no hidden costs
Get a proper roof, from people who actually answer the phone.
Covering all of Hampshire, Dorset and surrounding areas.