Chimney Repairs in Maidenhead

Chimney Repointing & Flaunching in Maidenhead

On a tall period stack, the top courses take the worst of the weather, and that is usually where the mortar fails first. Repointing rakes the soft, crumbling mortar out of the joints and fills them again, which stops rain soaking into the brickwork and keeps the decorative courses at the top sound.

Large stacks with several pots rely on the flaunching to hold every pot firm and throw water off the top. When it cracks, rain gets straight into the stack, so the flaunching is renewed where needed and the pots bedded firmly back in place.

Chimney Leadwork & Lead Flashing in Maidenhead

On a large Maidenhead house the leadwork around a chimney can be extensive, especially where a wide stack sits halfway down a steep slope and collects a lot of rainwater behind it. Each part of that leadwork protects a different joint, so we look at every piece. A single split flashing can often be repaired or renewed on its own, while lead that has worn thin all round is replaced as a new set, dressed to the shape of the stack and fixed into the brickwork.

These are the parts of the leadwork around a chimney stack.

Apron Flashing

Lies across the front of the stack and over the tiles or slates below it.

Stepped Flashing

Runs up the sides in steps, each one tucked into a mortar joint of the brickwork.

Soakers

Sit under the tiles or slates alongside the stack, turned up against the brick.

Back Gutter

The channel behind a wide stack that carries water from the slope above around its sides.

Cover Flashing

Laps over the soakers and joints so rain cannot find its way behind them.