Chimney repairs carried out by our own team
Chimney stacks take more weather than any other part of a house. They stand proud of the roof, catch wind and driving rain on every face, and the mortar holding them together is the first thing to crumble. Because we are up on Bedfordshire roofs every working day, stacks in poor condition are one of the most common problems we find.
Chimney work is not referred to another firm. Our own uniformed team replaces and caps pots, repoints stacks and re-beds ridge tiles, so the people who spot the problem are the same people who put it right.
The chimney work we do
Chimney pot replacement where a pot is cracked, loose or missing.
Capping of pots and flues that are no longer in use, to keep rain and birds out.
Chimney repointing, raking out failed mortar joints and filling them again.
Ridge tile repair and re-bedding where the ridge meets or runs past the stack.
Signs a stack needs attention
From the garden, look at the mortar lines between the bricks. If they are recessed, sandy or missing in places, water is getting into the brickwork. Look at the pots for a lean or a visible crack, and at the top of the stack for plants growing out of it, which means moisture is sitting there year round.
Inside, damp patches on a chimney breast or on the ceiling beside it are worth taking seriously. They do not always come from the stack, but it is one of the first places to check. Bits of mortar or brick in the gutter below the chimney are another clue.
Why it pays to combine it with a roof clean
Access is a large part of any job at height. If we are already on the roof to clean it, a stack repair shares the same setup rather than needing a separate visit. Cleaning also exposes things moss was hiding, such as cracked flaunching at the base of the pots or slipped ridge tiles, so we can show you photographs and agree what to do before we leave.
We photograph the condition of the roof as part of every job. You see what we saw, and nothing is added to the bill without your say so.
What we will not do
Our specialism is cleaning, with chimney and ridge work carried out alongside it. Where a stack needs rebuilding from the roofline or a leak turns out to have a cause outside what we do, we tell you plainly so you can bring in the right trade. We never invent work to fill a day.
Getting a price
Chimney repairs are quoted on the stack in front of us. Height, the number of pots, how much mortar has failed and how the stack is reached all make a difference, which is why we do not publish a price list. Quotes and visits are free, and our separate cost guide explains what moves the figure up or down.
Our own photographs
Images from Sky Scrapers Ltd work showing the methods described on this page.
Where this applies locally
Towns where this comes up most often on our patch:
Chimney repair services we carry out
If you are searching for chimney repairs near you in Bedfordshire or the surrounding counties, the work our own team carries out is pot replacement, capping of unused pots and flues, chimney repointing and ridge re-bedding where the ridge meets the stack. Problems are photographed before anything is agreed, so you see what we see.
Chimney repointing is the most common repair. Failed mortar is raked out of the joints and the stack is pointed again, which stops water soaking into the brickwork. Where a pot is cracked or loose, it can be replaced, or capped if the flue is no longer used.
Chimney repair cost and repointing cost
The cost of chimney repairs depends on the stack: its height, how many faces need repointing, the number of pots and how the stack is reached. Repointing one face is a smaller job than repointing a whole stack, and adding chimney work to a roof clean shares the access. We do not publish a chimney repair price list. Quotes are free, and our chimney and ridge repair cost guide explains what moves the figure up or down.
How to repair a chimney: why it is not a DIY job
Repairing a chimney means working at the highest point of the house, often on brickwork and pots that are already loose. Raking out and repointing a stack, or lifting a pot, needs safe access and experience at height. From the ground you can do the useful part yourself: look for recessed or missing mortar, leaning pots and plants growing from the top, then send us a photograph.
Related repair pages
Chimney and ridge work often go together. Call 01525 600162 for a free quote.
Want a professional to handle it?
Worried about your chimney?
Send a photograph of the stack from the garden or street and we will tell you what we can see and what we would suggest. Quotes are free.
Sky Scrapers Ltd · info@sky-scrapers.co.uk
Questions we get asked
Do you send chimney work to another company?
No. Our own team carries out chimney pot replacement and capping, chimney repointing, and ridge tile repair and re-bedding.
Can you look at my chimney without cleaning the roof?
Yes. Chimney repairs can be booked on their own. Combining them with a roof clean simply shares the access.
Is a cracked pot dangerous?
A loose or cracked pot can fall in high winds, so it is worth having looked at rather than left. We can replace it or cap the flue if it is no longer used.
Will repointing stop damp on my chimney breast?
It stops water entering through failed joints, which is a common cause. Damp can have other causes too, and we will say so if what we find suggests one.
Are you insured for chimney work?
Yes. We are fully insured for the work we carry out at height.
How much does chimney repair cost?
It depends on the height of the stack, how much mortar has failed, the number of pots and access. We quote after seeing the chimney, and quotes are free.
Does insurance cover chimney repair?
That depends on your policy and the cause. Many home policies treat sudden storm damage differently from gradual wear. Check with your insurer; our condition photographs can help you show them what we found.
What is a chimney service?
For us it means inspecting the stack and carrying out the repairs it needs: pot replacement, capping, repointing and ridge re-bedding by our own team.
How do you repair a chimney?
Most repairs involve raking out failed mortar and repointing the joints, replacing or capping pots, and re-bedding any ridge tiles around the stack. It needs safe access at height.
In short
Our own insured team replaces and caps pots, repoints stacks and re-beds ridges. Problems are photographed, explained and agreed before any work starts, and chimney work can be booked alone or with a roof clean.
Related services
Covering Bedfordshire and surrounding counties