Chimney Repairs in Crowborough, East Sussex

Most homeowners we speak to don't realise their mortar is failing until they see a leak. Over time, the 'glue' between your bricks—the mortar—begins to crumble away due to frost and rain. This is called weathering, and if it's left too long, your chimney can actually become unstable. Our team specialises in repointing, which involves carefully raking out that old, sandy mortar and replacing it with a fresh, durable mix. It’s a simple fix that restores the structural integrity of your stack and, more importantly, stops water from seeping into your home. It's much cheaper to repoint a chimney now than it is to fix a collapsed one later, wouldn't you agree?

Imagine the junction where your chimney meets your roof tiles; that’s a prime spot for water ingress. To keep things dry, we use lead flashing to create a flexible, waterproof seal. Because lead expands and contracts when the Sussex weather shifts from freezing mornings to sunny afternoons, it needs to be installed by someone who knows exactly how to boss the metal into shape. If your lead is cracked or has pulled away from the brickwork, you'll likely see soot-stained water marks inside your house. We can strip back the old, tired lead and install high-quality replacements that’ll keep you bone-dry for decades.

The very top of your chimney has a tough job. The sloped mortar base that holds your pots in place is called 'flaunching' or benching, and it's often the first thing to crack. When that happens, your chimney pots can become loose—which is a real worry in a heavy storm. We can easily repair or replace this flaunching to ensure everything is locked down tight. While we’re up there, we often find that a simple cowl or bird guard is exactly what’s needed to stop jackdaws from nesting in the flue or to prevent rain from falling straight down the stack. It’s all about those small details that keep your fireplace working correctly.

Sometimes, a few repairs just won't cut it, especially with some of the beautiful but aged period properties we have around Crowborough and Uckfield. If a stack has become dangerously lean or the brickwork is too far gone, we can perform a full or partial rebuild. We're very careful to match the existing bricks and style so it looks like it’s always been there. On the other hand, if you have a redundant chimney that's just causing constant maintenance headaches, we can discuss a safe and professional removal. We’ll take it down below the roofline and tile over the gap so you never have to worry about it leaking again.