The oldest part of your roof, made safe and watertight.
Repointing, brickwork, flaunching, lead flashing and chimney pots.
For homes and commercial buildings.
Is your chimney leaning, or are pots loose? Call us now. That needs looking at straight away.
Is your chimney trying to tell you something?
You can spot most of these from the pavement with your phone's zoom, or from inside the house.
Gaps between the bricks
The mortar has worn away, letting rain soak into the stack.
Flaking or crumbling bricks
Water gets in, freezes in winter and breaks the brick face away.
Loose or tilted pots
Usually the flaunching on top has cracked. In high winds that's dangerous.
Damp on the chimney breast
A damp patch upstairs after heavy rain often means the lead flashing has failed.
Stains down the outside
Dark streaks show where water is running down and soaking in.
Any lean at all
Compare it with a neighbour's chimney. A lean needs looking at urgently.
Why chimneys fail first.
Your chimney is usually the oldest and most exposed part of your house. It takes rain on every side, frost in every joint and wind from every direction.
On the older terraces and semis in Bedford, Dunstable and Luton, many chimneys have stood for 80 years or more. When we survey roofs across Bedfordshire, the chimney is the place we find problems most often.
They tend to fail in the same order. The mortar between the bricks wears away first. Then the flaunching on top cracks, and the pots work loose. Then the lead where the chimney meets the roof lifts, and water gets inside.
Caught early, most chimneys only need repointing and new flashing. Left too long, the stack can start to lean and may need rebuilding.
The four weak points of a chimney
- Mortar jointsWear away first, letting rain into the bricks.
- FlaunchingThe mortar on top that holds the pots in place.
- Lead flashingThe seal where the chimney meets the roof.
- The stack itselfStarts to lean if the problems are left.
What a chimney repair involves
A simple drawing of a worn chimney, and the same chimney once it's been repaired.
- 1. Cracked flaunching and a loose, tilted pot
- 2. Mortar worn away and bricks flaking
- 3. Lead flashing lifted, letting water in
- 1. New flaunching with the pots set firmly
- 2. Repointed, with damaged bricks replaced
- 3. New lead flashing, sealed to the roof
These are illustrations, not photos of a real job. Every chimney is different, and we'll show you photos of yours from the drone survey.
Our chimney repair services
Chimney repointing
Worn mortar raked out and replaced. The chimney job we do most.
Brickwork repairs and rebuilds
Damaged bricks replaced, and leaning stacks taken down and rebuilt.
Flaunching
Cracked flaunching on top of the stack renewed.
Lead flashing
Lifted or worn flashing repaired or replaced where the chimney meets the roof.
Chimney pots
Loose or broken pots refixed or replaced.
Making it safe
Weakened stacks reinforced, and urgent call-outs for loose masonry.
Repair it, or rebuild it?
Most chimneys don't need rebuilding. We'll only recommend it when it's the safe and sensible option.
- The stack is standing straight
- The mortar is worn but most bricks are sound
- The problem is the flaunching, pots or flashing
- The stack has started to lean
- Lots of bricks are crumbling or loose
- Water has soaked deep into the brickwork for years
What our customers say
★★★★★ 5.0 from 21 Google reviews · Read them all →
“I recently had work done by this roofing company and couldn’t be more satisfied with the results. From the initial quote to the final inspection, the whole process was handled professionally and efficiently.”
“Fast, reliable service. Works to a high standard and clean and tidy! Would recommend.”
“Great job! Highly recommended.”
From first call to a sound chimney
Tell us what you've seen
Call us or fill in the short form. If it's leaning or loose, call.
We survey the chimney
Drone photos of all four sides and the top of the stack.
A clear written quote
What needs doing, whether scaffolding is needed, and what it costs.
We repair it and tidy up
Safe access, guaranteed work, and no mess left behind.
See your whole roof, without anyone climbing on it.
We fly our drone over your roof and send you the photos with any problems marked, so you see exactly what we see. Then we tell you honestly what needs doing now, and what can wait.
- Your roof photographed from every angle
- Problem areas marked on your photos
- Honest advice on what's urgent and what isn't
- A clear written quote if work is needed
- No ladders, no obligation
Example survey photo
1
2
3
- 1Chimney pots and flaunching
- 2Ridge tiles and mortar
- 3Valley and roof tiles
- ✓Marked photos sent to you
What does a chimney repair cost?
The biggest factor is reaching the chimney safely. You get a written quote before any work starts, with no surprise extras.
Other roof work we do
Local roofers who treat your roof like their own.
The Aqua Tight team looks after roofs across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas. We're a local, fully insured team, and every job gets the same care, big or small.
Turn up when we sayYour time matters.
Honest adviceIf a repair will do, we won't sell you a new roof.
Clear pricesWritten quotes, no hidden extras.
Tidy and safeProper access, and we clear up after ourselves.
Roofers across Bedfordshire and beyond
Local to you, so we can get there quickly when the weather turns.
Know your roof before you call
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a chimney repair if I don't use the fireplace?
Yes. Even an unused chimney takes the weather, and a failing one lets water into the house or drops loose masonry onto the roof.
Why is there damp on my chimney breast?
Most often the lead flashing where the chimney meets the roof has lifted or worn. Worn mortar and cracked flaunching can also let water in.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
It can be. A visible lean means the stack is weakening, so call us and we'll look at it as a priority.
Do you need scaffolding for chimney work?
Often, yes, because the chimney is the highest point of the house. If you need it, it's included in your written quote.
Can you see my chimney without climbing up?
Yes. Our drone photographs all four sides and the top of the stack, so you can see exactly what we see.
Is the work guaranteed?
Yes, all our workmanship is guaranteed.
Ready when you are
Don't wait for the next downpour.
Book your free drone survey today, or call us any time.
07828 762441