- Chimney Repairs
Chimney Repairs
Specialist chimney work across Hampshire, Dorset and Surrey. Repointing, flaunching, pots, lead, cowls, rebuilds and full removals. We work on every type of stack from Victorian terraces to modern family homes, and we get the detailing right where it matters.
The Most Exposed Part of Your Roof
Your chimney sticks up above the roofline into the worst the weather has to offer. Wind hits it from every direction. Rain runs down it. Frost gets into every crack. Sun bakes one side while the other stays in shadow. After fifty or a hundred years of that, even the best-built stack starts to show its age.
Most chimney problems begin small. A bit of mortar weathering out of a joint. The flaunching at the top developing a hairline crack. The lead apron lifting just enough to let water creep behind. Left alone, those tiny issues let water into the brickwork and the roof structure beneath, and the damage spreads quickly. By the time a homeowner spots a stain on the ceiling, the chimney has often been leaking for two or three winters.
We work on chimneys of every age and style across the South of England. Whether yours needs a fresh repoint, a rebuilt top section, a complete removal or a brand new stack from scratch, we’ll tell you honestly what’s actually needed and finish the job to last.
Our Chimney Repair Services
Repointing Chimney Brickwork
Repointing means raking out the old, weathered mortar joints between the bricks of the stack and replacing them with fresh mortar. Over decades the original mortar washes out, leaving open joints that hold water and let frost work its way deeper into the brickwork. We use the correct mortar mix for the age and exposure of the stack, traditional lime mortars on older properties where modern cement would do more harm than good, and finish the joints in a profile that matches what's already there.
Chimney Flaunching Repairs
Flaunching is the sloped mortar cap at the top of the stack that holds the chimney pots in place and sheds water away from the brickwork. It's one of the first parts to fail because it sits on the highest, most exposed surface of the entire roof. Cracks let water down into the stack itself and around the pots. We chip out the failed flaunching, re-bed the pots if needed, and form a fresh sloped cap with the correct fall and finish.
Securing or Replacing Chimney Pots
Loose pots are dangerous as well as ugly. They can twist out of position in high winds and, in extreme cases, come down off the stack entirely. We re-secure pots where the existing flaunching has failed, replace cracked or damaged pots with matching reclaimed or new equivalents, and source heritage pot styles where the look of the property matters. Common types we work with include roll-top, beaded square, crow and louvre pots.
Chimney Stack Lead Work Repairs
The lead work where the chimney meets the roof is the single most common source of chimney leaks. The front apron, the step flashings up the sides and the back gutter behind the stack all need to be properly dressed and sealed. We repair lifted lead, re-form failed soakers and re-dress complete chimney flashings in Code 4 and Code 5 lead. For the wider story on leadwork across the rest of your roof, see our Lead Works & Flashing page.
Installation of Chimney Cowls & Vents
Cowls and vents stop rain, debris and wildlife getting down the flue while still allowing it to breathe. They also solve specific issues: anti-downdraught cowls cure smoking fires, bird guards stop nesting, capping cowls seal off disused flues while keeping ventilation. We fit purpose-made cowls from Brewer, Colt and similar specialists, sized correctly for each pot and fixed properly so they don't move.
Removing or Capping Off Chimneys
Chimneys you no longer use can be removed entirely down to roof level (and the roof made good with new tiles, battens and felt to match) or capped off below the flaunching to seal the flue while keeping the stack visually intact. We'll talk you through both options at survey, including the structural and Building Control implications, and give you a clear written quote for whichever route makes sense.
Building New Chimney Stacks
New chimneys are built less often than they used to be, but they're still occasionally specified for new-build extensions, period restorations and properties where a previous stack was removed and the homeowner now regrets it. We build to current Building Regulations using appropriate brick or stone to match the property, set the flue and liner correctly, and finish with proper flaunching, pots and lead detailing.
Chimney Stack Refurbishment
A full stack refurbishment is the chimney equivalent of a re-roof. We strip back the failed render or pointing, rebuild the top courses where the brickwork has spalled past the point of repair, fit new pots, fresh flaunching, new lead, and finish with a complete weather protection treatment. The result is essentially a new chimney visually, set on the original lower stack and good for another generation.
Our Services
Damp Patch on a Chimney Breast?
Internal damp around a chimney almost always means the stack itself needs work. Don’t paint over it and hope. Book a free survey and we’ll find the source from outside, where the problem actually is.
Catch Chimney Problems Early and Save Yourself a Rebuild
A repoint and a fresh flaunching today is a fraction of the cost of rebuilding the top half of a stack in five years. Most chimneys that end up needing a major rebuild were neglected for years before they got to that point. Regular inspections and timely small repairs add decades to a chimney’s life.
Get in touch for a free, no-obligation survey. We’ll come out, take a proper look (we don’t rely on binoculars from ground level) and give you a written quote for whatever’s actually needed.
Backed in Writing on Every Job
Every chimney job we carry out is properly backed:
Written Workmanship Guarantee
You'll get a written guarantee specific to the work done. Repointing and flaunching repairs typically carry several years of workmanship cover. Full stack rebuilds and new builds carry substantial long-term cover. We tell you the exact terms in writing before any work starts.
Insurance-Backed via CORC
Confederation of Roofing Contractors membership means our guarantees are insurance-backed. If for any reason MGP Roofing couldn't honour a guarantee ourselves, the underwriter steps in. Most chimney specialists simply can't offer this level of protection.
£10 Million Public Liability
Every job, no matter the size, is fully covered by our £10 million public liability insurance. Working at chimney height carries genuine risks, and proper insurance is non-negotiable. Your property, your neighbours and the public are all protected.
F. A. Q
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions homeowners ask us about chimneys. If yours isn’t here, give us a ring on 07304 092761 and we’ll talk it through honestly.
Common warning signs include damp patches on chimney breasts inside the house, mortar dust falling into the fireplace or onto the roof, visible cracks in the flaunching at the top of the stack, leaning or twisted pots, sections of brickwork that look pale or weathered compared to the rest, and water staining on the wall outside near the stack. If you've had a chimney sweep recently, ask if they noticed anything from inside the flue too.
No, not necessarily. Many homeowners cap off disused chimneys instead of removing them, sealing the flue at the top with a vented cap to prevent rain ingress while still allowing the stack to breathe and avoiding condensation. Removal is also an option if the chimney is structurally compromised or you simply don't want it any more. We'll talk both options through honestly at survey.
Usually yes. We source matching reclaimed bricks for period properties wherever possible, and use brick-matching merchants for stocks that are still produced. The mortar mix and colour are just as important as the bricks themselves, and we mix to match the rest of the property rather than using whatever's in the back of the van.
Repointing is the cosmetic and weather-protection job: raking out failed mortar joints and refilling them. The bricks themselves stay where they are. Rebuilding means actually taking down some or all of the stack and laying it back up with new (or reclaimed) bricks, fresh mortar, and new pots and flaunching. Repointing is far cheaper but it only works if the bricks themselves are still sound. We'll tell you honestly which approach is needed.
Not always. A cracked pot can often be replaced individually if the flaunching and surrounding brickwork are still in good condition. We'll inspect the wider stack at the same time so we can tell you whether the pot is an isolated issue or part of a bigger pattern. If it's just the pot, that's all you'll be quoted for.
Properly carried out repointing using the right mortar mix for the age and exposure of the stack should last 25 to 50 years. Lime-mortar repointing on a sheltered Victorian terrace might still be doing its job at 60+ years. Modern cement-based pointing on a heavily exposed coastal stack might need attention again at 20-25. We use the correct mortar for the situation, which makes a substantial difference to longevity.
It depends on the property. For light repointing, flaunching repairs and pot work on accessible chimneys, we can often work from access equipment or roof ladders without full scaffolding, which keeps costs down. Full stack rebuilds, new chimneys and complex multi-stack work usually need proper scaffolding for safety and quality. We confirm access requirements at the free survey stage so the quote is accurate.
Yes. £10 million public liability insurance covers every chimney job we do, from a single pot replacement to a full new build. Working at chimney height needs proper cover, and we'll happily provide a copy of the certificate with your quote.
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