Repointing · Flashing · Capping · Full Rebuilds
Chimney Repair in Bicester, Thame & Oxford
Chimneys are where most roof leaks actually start. The rest of the roof looks fine, the chimney has a cracked piece of pointing or a tired bit of lead flashing, and the water finds its way into the bedroom below.
We handle every kind of chimney repair across Oxfordshire, from a single afternoon's repointing to full chimney rebuilds. Done properly, with the right materials, and with the lead flashing redressed so it doesn't fail again next winter.
When You Need Chimney Work
Damp on the chimney breast inside the house
Almost always a chimney problem rather than a wider roof problem. Could be flashing, could be pointing, could be the top of the chimney letting water down the inside.
Visible cracks or crumbling in the brickwork
Brick faces flaking off, mortar joints visibly missing chunks, the whole structure looking weathered. Repointing or partial rebuild territory.
Lead flashing lifting, cracked, or torn
The lead that seals where the chimney meets the roof. Lifts away from the brickwork over time. Once the seal is gone, water tracks in.
Loose or missing cement at the top of the chimney
The cement crown at the top of the stack keeps water out of the brickwork. When it cracks, water gets in and frost damage does the rest.
Disused chimneys
Many Oxfordshire homes have chimneys that no longer have a fireplace below. Worth deciding whether to maintain them properly, cap them, or take them down to roof level.
Leaning or unsafe stacks
A visibly leaning chimney is structural. Don't leave it.
01
Get up there and inspect properly.
Scaffolding or proper ladder access, depending on what's needed. We look at the pointing, the flashing, the cap, and the brickwork condition. Then we tell you what's actually wrong, in writing, with a fixed quote.
Do the work to the right spec.
Repointing in matched mortar, code 4 or 5 lead flashing dressed in properly, new cement crowns or pre-cast caps, brickwork rebuilds where needed. Whatever the job calls for, done with the right materials and the right method, not patched with mastic.
02
Test, tidy, and guarantee.
Water-test the new pointing and flashing, clear any debris, scaffolding down. Written guarantee covers the workmanship.
03
Types of Chimney Work We Cover
Repointing
Old mortar raked out, new mortar matched in colour and composition, joints finished properly. Done in dry weather so the mortar cures correctly.
Lead flashing
Old lead out, new code 4 or 5 lead dressed in. Proper soakers and step flashing where the chimney meets the roof tiles or slates. Bedded into the chimney's mortar joints with new pointing on top.
Capping
New cement crown or pre-cast cap at the top of the chimney. Sealed against water ingress, with proper flaunching around any pots.
Pot replacement
Cracked or missing chimney pots replaced. Disused flues capped with vented terminals to allow airflow but prevent water and birds.
Rebuilds
Partial rebuilds where only the top of the chimney has failed. Full rebuilds from roof level up where the whole stack is unsound. Matching bricks and tile profile to the rest of the property.
Take-downs
Removing chimneys that are no longer needed. Roof made good with matching tiles and underlay. Quicker and often cheaper than ongoing maintenance on a chimney with no purpose.
What Chimney Work Costs
Rough cost bands for typical Oxfordshire domestic chimneys:
Chimney repointing only: £350 to £900 depending on stack size and access.
Flashing replacement: £400 to £1,200.
Repointing plus flashing plus capping: £800 to £2,000. Most common spec for an aged but structurally sound chimney.
Partial rebuild from below the cap: £1,500 to £3,500.
Full rebuild from roof level: £2,500 to £5,000+.
Take-down to roof level with roof made good: £1,200 to £3,000.
Scaffolding is usually required for any chimney work and is included in the quote.
Common Questions
The chimney is for a fireplace I never use. Should I keep it maintained?
Two options. Either keep it maintained (repointing every twenty years or so, flashing every thirty), or have it taken down to roof level. The take-down is often the cheaper long-term answer if the fireplace is genuinely disused.
Can I do chimney work without scaffolding?
For brief flashing work some chimneys can be reached safely with proper ladder access. Anything more substantial needs scaffolding. We don't cut corners on access.
My chimney looks fine but I've got a damp patch on the bedroom wall. Could it still be the chimney?
Yes, often. Damp from chimneys can travel down the inside of the brickwork for some distance before showing on a plastered wall. Worth an inspection.
Do you do chimney removal?
Yes. Either to roof level (capped and tiled over) or full removal to ceiling level (which usually needs structural work and isn't always possible). We quote both options where relevant.
Areas We Cover
We do chimney work across Bicester, Thame, Oxford, and the surrounding villages.
Get a Chimney Repair Quote
Most roof problems are smaller than they look. Some are bigger. Either way, the right next step is getting eyes on it.
Free inspection · 10-Year Workmanship Guarantee · Fully Insured · Family run