Chimney Repairs & Restoration in Brighton & Hove
Repointing, flaunching, lead flashing, rendering, partial rebuilds and full stack removal — carried out safely and correctly by experienced specialists across Sussex.
Get a Free SurveyBrighton & Hove’s Chimney Repair Specialists
Brighton and Hove has one of the highest concentrations of Victorian and Edwardian housing stock in the south of England. The vast majority of those properties were built with multiple chimney stacks — many of which are now over 130 years old, exposed year-round to the salt-laden coastal air that accelerates mortar breakdown and brick spalling far faster than it would inland. Add the relentless freeze-thaw cycling of Sussex winters and the thermal movement caused by south-facing stacks in summer, and it becomes clear why chimney deterioration is so common on the Brighton and Hove housing stock. At Kirby’s Building & Property Maintenance Ltd, chimney repairs are one of our most frequently requested services, and our team has the experience, equipment, and material knowledge to carry them out correctly every time.
The most common chimney repair we carry out in Brighton is repointing. Over time, mortar joints erode, crack, and fall back from the face of the brick, leaving open channels that direct water into the heart of the stack. Left unaddressed, water ingress breaks down the brick faces, saturates the masonry, and eventually works its way through the stack into the roof structure and chimney breast below. We rake out all defective mortar to the correct depth, brush the joints clean, and re-point using a mix appropriate for the age and type of brick. For older Georgian and Victorian properties where the original brickwork was laid in lime mortar, we always specify a compatible lime mix rather than a hard cement mortar, which can cause brick spalling in softer, more porous Victorian stock.
Flaunching replacement is another repair we carry out regularly across Brighton and Hove. The flaunching is the sloped mortar collar at the top of the chimney stack that secures the chimney pots and sheds rainwater away from the flues. It inevitably cracks over time due to thermal movement and weathering, and once cracked it allows water to pool and penetrate the top of the stack — a direct cause of damp patches on chimney breast walls inside the property. Repairing or replacing flaunching is a comparatively quick job but requires correct scaffold access and a weather-resistant mortar mixed and applied by someone who knows what they are doing.
Lead flashing repair and renewal at chimney stack junctions is equally important. Lead step flashings, soakers, cover flashings, and back gutters are the primary defence against water entering the roof at the point where the chimney passes through the roof plane. Lead has a finite service life — typically 60–80 years for correctly installed Code 4 and Code 5 flashings — and when it fails, the results are predictable. We strip out all defective lead and replace it with new lead sheet to LSA specification, correctly dressed, clipped, and pointed at every junction.
For chimneys beyond economic repair, we also carry out partial and full stack rebuilds, matching bricks and profiles to the existing building wherever possible, and full chimney removals on disused stacks, including complete structural roof reinstatement with new timbers, breathable membrane, battens, and matching tiles or slates. We serve Brighton, Hove, Portslade, Shoreham-by-Sea, Worthing, Lewes, Eastbourne and the wider East and West Sussex area. Contact us today for a free survey and written quotation.
Chimney Services We Provide
Chimney Repointing
Raking out and replacing failed mortar joints using an appropriate mix to restore structural integrity and weatherproofing.
Flaunching Repair & Renewal
Removing cracked or failed flaunching and re-bedding chimney pots in fresh mortar to prevent water ingress at the stack top.
Lead Flashing Renewal
Stripping and replacing failed step, cover and apron flashings where the roof meets the chimney stack, correctly dressed to LSA standards.
Chimney Rendering
Removing blown render and re-rendering chimney stacks using weather-resistant mixes with stainless steel stop beads at all edges.
Partial & Full Chimney Rebuilds
Dismantling and rebuilding deteriorated sections or full chimney stacks using matching bricks and lime or sand-cement mortar as appropriate.
Chimney Stack Removal
Safe removal of disused stacks with full structural roof reinstatement — new timbers, membrane, battens, and matching tiles or slates.
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Chimney Repair — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my chimney needs repointing?
Common signs include crumbling or recessed mortar joints, damp patches on chimney breast walls inside the property, white salt staining (efflorescence) on the stack, and loose or spalling bricks. A visual inspection from ground level with binoculars can reveal obvious deterioration, but a proper scaffold survey gives a full picture of what needs attention.
What is flaunching and why does it crack?
Flaunching is the sloped mortar bed at the top of the chimney stack that holds the chimney pots in position and directs rainwater away from the flue. It cracks over time due to freeze-thaw cycling, UV degradation and thermal movement. Cracked or missing flaunching allows water to enter the stack and is one of the most common causes of chimney-related damp inside a property. It's a straightforward repair but important to address promptly.
Can a chimney be repaired without full scaffolding?
Minor repairs such as re-pointing low sections or replacing a pot can sometimes be carried out using a roof ladder from the ridge. However, for any substantive repair work — repointing, rendering, flaunching replacement, lead flashing renewal, or partial rebuilds — scaffold access is essential for safe working and to achieve a quality finish. We always prioritise safe access over cutting corners.
How long does a chimney repair take?
Most chimney repairs — repointing, flaunching, lead flashing renewal — are completed within one to three days once scaffold is up. A partial or full rebuild will take longer depending on the height and complexity of the stack. We give a clear programme of works with every written quotation so you know exactly what to expect.
Do you carry out chimney repairs on listed buildings in Brighton?
Yes. We have extensive experience working on listed and historic properties across Brighton and Hove. We use appropriate lime mortars where required, match existing brick profiles, and can liaise with conservation officers on your behalf. All chimney repairs on listed buildings are carried out with full awareness of the planning constraints involved.
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Covering Brighton, Hove, Portslade, Shoreham, Worthing, Lewes, Eastbourne & across East and West Sussex.
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