Chimney Repairs in Reading

Chimney Repointing & Flaunching in Reading

A century of rain and frost wears the mortar out of a Victorian stack long before the bricks themselves give up. Once the joints are open, water soaks into the brickwork, and on a shared terrace stack it can track down into both houses. Repointing rakes out the loose mortar and fills the joints again, so the stack throws off the rain rather than drinking it in.

The flaunching is the sloped mortar collar on top of the stack that holds the pots in place and sheds water off the top. On older Reading chimneys it is often cracked or patched, and it is renewed where needed so water cannot get in from above.

Chimney Leadwork & Lead Flashing in Reading

The lead around a chimney is not one piece but a set, and each part keeps rain out of a different joint. On Reading's older roofs much of that leadwork is decades old, and once one piece cracks or lifts, water runs straight past it into the roof. Where only one piece has failed, it can often be repaired or renewed on its own; where the lead is tired all round, a new set is cut, dressed to shape and fixed into the brickwork joints.

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

Apron Flashing

The lead across the front of the stack, lying over the slates or tiles below it.

Stepped Flashing

The lead up each side, cut in steps and tucked into the mortar joints of the brickwork.

Soakers

Pieces of lead under the slates or tiles beside the stack, turned up against the brickwork.

Back Gutter

The lead channel behind the stack that catches rain running down the roof and carries it round the sides.

Cover Flashing

The lead that laps over the joints and the tops of the soakers, so water cannot get behind them.