Chimney & Flue Systems
Chimney stacks are the most exposed masonry on a building and the most frequently neglected. They take weather from every side, they are difficult to inspect, and the first sign of failure is usually damp appearing inside at ceiling level. The specialists in this category rebuild and repoint stacks, repair and replace flaunching, pots and flashings, line and reline flues, and deal with the problems that follow from disuse: cold, damp flues, condensing appliances vented into old brickwork, and stacks capped without ventilation.
What this category covers
- Stack rebuilding, repointing and flaunching in lime mortar
- Pot replacement, terminals and capping with ventilation
- Flue lining, relining and repair for open fires and appliances
- Lead flashings, soakers and back gutters at roof junctions
- Sweeping, smoke testing and flue condition inspection
JH Building Restoration Ltd
JH Building Restoration Ltd is a heritage restoration and refurbishment contractor based ...
Organic By Design
Organic By Design is a heritage building maintenance and repair contractor based ...
Temple Leadworks
Templeleadworks, trading as Temple Leadworks, is a roofing restoration and lead work ...
Looking after a chimney on an old building
Inspect from the scaffold, not the ground. Cracked flaunching, open joints, spalled brick, failed lead and displaced pots are invisible from below and are the usual sources of internal damp. If scaffolding is up for other work, inspect the stack while it is there.
Repoint in lime, not cement. Stacks move and get wet, and hard cement pointing traps moisture and spalls the brick faces. Lime mortar of an appropriate mix allows the stack to dry and takes movement without cracking.
Ventilate disused flues rather than sealing them. A capped, unventilated flue holds moisture and soot salts, which come through the chimney breast as staining and damp. A capped pot with a vent, plus a vent at the base, keeps air moving.
Match the lining to the appliance. Open fires, stoves and gas or oil appliances have different requirements, and condensing appliances vented into unlined historic brickwork cause serious deterioration. A flue should be swept, smoke tested and inspected before it is brought back into use.
Questions to ask
Why is damp appearing on my chimney breast?
Common causes are cracked flaunching, open joints or spalled brickwork in the stack, failed lead flashings at the roof junction, and hygroscopic soot salts in a flue that has been used and then sealed. All are diagnosed from the stack rather than from inside.
Should I take down an unused chimney stack?
Rarely. On a listed building it usually needs consent and is often refused, since stacks are a defining feature of the roofline. Removal also affects the stability of the roof structure and the appearance of the building. Repair and ventilation are the normal route.
Does relining a flue need consent?
In a listed building, work affecting historic fabric normally does, and cutting out or opening up a flue certainly can. Building Regulations also apply to flue work for appliances. Check both before starting, as the two approvals are separate.
All 5 businesses listed under Chimney & Flue Systems
- JH Building Restoration Ltd Cambridgeshire
- M.J.Coleman & Sons Ltd Surrey
- Organic By Design Cambridgeshire
- Temple Leadworks Hertfordshire
- W. J. Cove West Sussex
Directory information is provided to help visitors identify potentially relevant specialists and suppliers. Inclusion does not constitute a recommendation, approval or guarantee by Tuscan Foundry Products. Please check current services, credentials, availability and suitability directly with each business.