If your chimney stack is leaning, cracked, or letting water in, Thetford Roofers carries out full chimney rebuilds for homes in Feltwell and the surrounding villages.
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A full chimney rebuild means taking the stack down, usually to just above the roof line or to sound brickwork, and then rebuilding it course by course using matching bricks and proper mortar. The lead flashing at the base of the stack is renewed, and the flaunching - the sloped mortar bed that holds the chimney pots - is replaced at the same time. When all of those elements are done correctly, the stack is both watertight and structurally safe again.
The junction between the chimney and the roof slope is particularly vulnerable. This is where a chimney saddle, also called a back gutter, is formed in lead to channel rainwater away from the base of the stack. If this detail fails, water tracks down behind the chimney and into the roof void. A rebuild is the right moment to address the saddle and all the surrounding lead work so everything is renewed together.
Signs worth acting on promptly include:
A stack that has reached this condition cannot simply be repointed. The underlying brickwork is often saturated and the mortar no longer has the strength to hold the structure. Attempting to paint or seal over it traps moisture inside and usually accelerates the deterioration.
This is the section that matters most for Feltwell homeowners currently getting quotes. A chimney rebuild is not a small job - scaffolding is required, several trades of work are involved, and the consequences of a poor rebuild can include structural movement and persistent leaks. Here is what to ask, and why each question protects you.
Safe chimney work requires a scaffold tower or full scaffold - not a ladder. Any contractor proposing to carry out a rebuild from a ladder alone is cutting a corner that puts both the worker and the quality of the work at risk. Ask specifically whether the scaffold is included in the quotation, because some quotes omit it and add it later. A scaffold that is properly erected and inspected takes time to set up, and that cost should be transparent from the start.
Matching brickwork matters for two reasons: appearance and planning. Many homes are built with specific brick types, and a stack rebuilt in a visibly different brick can affect your property's appearance and, in some cases, raise questions if you are in a conservation area. Ask the contractor to explain how they intend to source matching or complementary bricks. If they say they will use whatever is available, that is worth probing further.
For the lead work, ask what lead code will be used. Code 4 is the minimum for most flashings, and code 5 is correct for back gutters and saddles. A contractor who cannot explain the lead specification they intend to use may not be carrying out the work to the detail it requires.
A full rebuild should always include new flaunching and new lead work. If a contractor quotes only for the brickwork and proposes to reuse existing lead flashings, ask why. Old lead can be sound if it is genuinely in good condition, but the assessment of that should be explained to you clearly - not assumed.
Photographs of finished work are a reasonable thing to ask for. You want to see neat, consistent mortar joints, lead that is properly stepped and pointed in, and flaunching that is evenly sloped and solid. A contractor confident in their work will have no hesitation in showing you what they have done on other properties.
Get the scope of work in writing before you agree. The quotation should specify: how much of the stack is coming down, what the new brickwork will consist of, whether new lead flashing is included, whether the pot is being replaced or retained, scaffold costs, and waste removal. Vague quotations - "
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
