Chimney Repairs in Midhurst, West Sussex

One of the most common reasons people call us out is for 'water ingress'—that's just a roofer's way of saying rain is getting in where it shouldn't. Usually, the culprit is the lead flashing. This is the waterproof seal that wraps around the base of your chimney where it meets the tiles. Over time, lead can crack or pull away due to thermal expansion (the way it grows and shrinks as the temperature changes). If your leadwork is failing, we can expertly repair or replace it, including the back gutters, to ensure a perfectly watertight seal. It's much cheaper to fix a bit of lead now than it is to repair a rotten roof timber or a damp-damaged bedroom wall later on, wouldn't you agree?

Does your chimney's brickwork look a bit 'eaten away'? The mortar joints between your bricks are often the first thing to fail. Years of rain and frost cause this mortar to crumble, which not only looks messy but can eventually lead to the stack becoming unstable. Our team specialises in chimney repointing, where we carefully rake out the old, failing mortar and replace it with high-quality materials that match the character of your home. It’s a bit like giving your chimney a new lease of life. We've seen many chimneys in the Midhurst and Chichester areas that were just one big storm away from trouble, but a professional repointing job can keep them standing tall for decades to come.

If you look up at the very top of your chimney, you'll see a sloped bed of mortar that holds the pots in place—that's what we call 'flaunching'. Because it's so exposed, this mortar often cracks, allowing water to seep down into the stack. While we're up there, it's also the perfect time to think about a chimney cowl or bird guard. Most homeowners we speak to in rural West Sussex are tired of jackdaws trying to build nests in their flues! A properly fitted cowl keeps the birds out, stops rain from falling straight down the chimney, and can even help prevent annoying downdraughts from chilling your living room.

Sometimes, a few repairs just won't cut it, especially if the structural integrity of the stack is compromised. If your chimney has started to lean or the bricks are severely spalling, it might be time for a rebuild. Don't worry, though—we'll always give you a straight answer and won't suggest a full rebuild unless it's absolutely necessary for safety. We're experienced with the local architecture and can source bricks that match your existing home perfectly. Alternatively, if you no longer use your fireplaces and want the chimney removed entirely to prevent future maintenance, we can handle that safely and tile over the gap so you’d never know it was there.