Chimney Repairs Sunderland
Leaking chimney flashing, cracked flaunching, loose pots and tired pointing put right properly. Forthcoming Group inspects the stack before quoting, so you pay to fix the fault rather than the stain it leaves.
- Over 500 Projects Completed Across the North East
- Decades Of Trade Experience Experienced multi-trade team
- Free Roof Inspections No obligation, written quote
- 5 Star Customer Reviews Rated by local customers
Chimney Repair Specialists
Most chimney leaks start at the top or at the roof line
A chimney stack is the most exposed part of most houses. It stands above the roof, takes the weather from every side and has more joints in it than any other part of the roof: the pots, the cap they sit in, the brickwork, and the lead where the stack meets the tiles.
When water gets in, it rarely shows where it entered. It soaks down through the brickwork or tracks along the roof timbers and appears as a damp patch on the chimney breast, an upstairs ceiling or in the loft.
That is why we look at the whole stack before quoting. A damp chimney breast can come from failed flashing, cracked flaunching, porous pointing or an open pot letting rain straight down the flue, and each one needs a different repair.
Our guide on how to tell if your lead flashing needs replacing covers the most common cause and what to look for from the ground.
What We Do
Chimney repairs we carry out
Our chimney work covers:
- Lead flashing repairs and replacement, including aprons, step flashings and back gutters
- Flaunching repairs and renewal (the mortar cap the pots sit in)
- Chimney repointing
- Chimney pots reset or replaced, and caps or cowls fitted to disused flues
- Chimney bracing where a stack needs extra support
- Leaks and damp traced back to the stack
Where the fault is isolated we repair it. Where the stack has wider problems, we will explain what we found and what it would take to put right, with photographs, so you can see it for yourself.
Bracing and repointing are also part of our brickwork service, and leaks elsewhere on the roof are covered on our roof repairs page.
When to Act
Signs your chimney needs attention
Chimney faults are high up and hard to see from the pavement, so most people only notice them once water is getting inside.
Common reasons customers contact us include:
- Damp patches or staining on a chimney breast, often worse after heavy rain
- A damp patch on the ceiling next to the stack
- Bits of mortar or lead on the roof or in the gutter
- Lead that has lifted, split or come away from the brickwork
- Pots that lean, are cracked or have plants growing round them
- Pointing on the stack that is crumbling or missing
If the damp comes and goes with the weather, water is very likely getting in from outside. If it stays the same whatever the weather, the cause may be something else, and we will tell you that rather than selling you a chimney repair.
Repair or Rebuild
When a repair is not enough
Most chimney problems are put right with new leadwork, new flaunching or repointing. A rebuild is only worth talking about when the brickwork itself has failed, the stack is leaning or the top courses have loosened.
Where a stack is no longer used, there can be a case for capping it properly or, in some cases, taking it down below the roof line. That is a bigger decision with knock-on effects for the roof and the rooms below, so we set out the options and leave the choice with you.
Whatever the job, access is a large part of the cost. If the roof itself is also due for work, it is usually better value to do both while the scaffold is up. Our roof replacement page explains what a full strip involves.
What Sets Us Apart
Why choose Forthcoming Group
We find the cause first
A damp chimney breast has several possible causes. We check the flashing, flaunching, pots and pointing before we recommend anything.
Leadwork done properly
Flashing is cut, dressed and fixed into the mortar joints of the stack, not stuck to the face with sealant that will fail in a few winters.
Honest advice on the stack
If a repair will not hold, or the stack needs more than you expected, we will say so and show you why.
Respect for your property
We protect the roof and the area below the stack, tidy up as we go and leave the site clean.
Our Process
How a chimney repair is handled
Chimney work is about getting the diagnosis right before anything is quoted. A clear process means you know what we found, what we are recommending and why.
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Step 1Tell us what you have noticed
Where the damp shows, when it appears and anything you have seen on the roof all help narrow it down.
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Step 2We inspect the stack
We look at the leadwork, flaunching, pots and pointing, photograph what we find and explain which fault is letting water in.
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Step 3You get a written quote
What needs doing now, what can wait, and whether scaffolding is needed. No pressure to decide on the spot.
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Step 4The repair is completed
Carried out with the right materials, checked before we leave, and the site left clean.
Chimney Repair Costs
Prices and quotes
Two things decide the cost of chimney work: what the fault is, and how we reach it. Re-dressing a small area of flashing is a very different job to new flaunching, repointing and leadwork all round a tall stack.
Most chimney work needs scaffolding or a roof access system for safe working, and that is often a significant part of the price. We will tell you what access is needed and why when we quote.
We inspect first, explain what we have found and give you a written quote, so you can compare like for like against anything else you have been given.
Customer Reviews
Trusted for chimney repairs in Sunderland
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Customer feedback and reviews are displayed across the website through our verified review platforms.
Ruth
North Tyneside
Carol
Sunderland
Samuel
County Durham
What To Avoid
Chimney repairs that do not hold
Chimney repairs fail for the same reason most roof repairs fail: the fault was never properly found, or the quick option was chosen over the right one.
Sealant instead of lead
Silicone or mastic along the top of old flashing may stop a drip for a while, but it cracks as the lead and brickwork move and the leak comes back.
Painting over a damp chimney breast
Stain block hides the mark inside. The water is still coming in from outside and the plaster will keep deteriorating.
Hard cement on older brickwork
Mortar that is harder than the bricks traps moisture and can cause the faces of older bricks to break away.
Leaving a cracked cap
Cracked flaunching lets water straight into the top of the stack, and frost widens the cracks every winter.
Recent Work
Roofing projects we have completed
Every project page shows what we found, what we did about it and how it finished, with photographs from the job rather than stock images.
A felt flat roof holding standing water, stripped back to new decking and recovered in EPDM rubber.
A low-pitch roof fitted with the wrong tiles, where a previous installer used a covering the pitch could not support and left the timbers poorly fixed.
A dormer flat roof replaced in EPDM, with new 18mm OSB decking across the whole dormer top.
Areas Covered
Chimney repairs across Sunderland and the North East
Our roofing team repairs chimney leadwork, flaunching, pots and pointing for homeowners throughout Sunderland and the surrounding areas.
- Sunderland
- Newcastle
- Gosforth
- Darras Hall
- Whitley Bay
- North Tyneside
- South Tyneside
- Northumberland
- Durham
- County Durham
- Darlington
- Hartlepool
- Middlesbrough
FAQs
Questions about chimney repairs
Why is my chimney breast damp?
The most common causes are failed lead flashing where the stack meets the roof, cracked flaunching around the pots, porous or missing pointing, and rain getting down an open flue. Less often it is condensation in a sealed, unventilated flue. We inspect the stack to find which one it is before quoting.
Can you repair chimney flashing without replacing the whole chimney?
Yes, in most cases. Flashing can usually be re-dressed, refixed or replaced on its own. A rebuild is only needed when the brickwork itself has failed.
Do you need scaffolding for chimney repairs?
Most chimney work needs scaffolding or a roof access system so it can be done safely. We will tell you what is needed when we inspect.
Do you charge for a chimney inspection?
No. Roof and chimney inspections are free and carry no obligation.
Should I remove a chimney I no longer use?
Sometimes, but not always. A disused stack can often be capped and ventilated instead. Removing one affects the roof and sometimes the rooms below, so we will talk you through the options before you decide.
Do you repoint chimneys?
Yes. We rake out the failed mortar and repoint with a mix suited to the brickwork, which is important on older properties.
Which areas do you cover?
Sunderland and the wider North East, including Newcastle, North and South Tyneside, Durham and Northumberland.
Free Guide
Avoid costly mistakes before starting your project
A new roof, driveway, garden transformation or property upgrade is a big investment. Choosing the wrong company can lead to unexpected costs, delays and problems that could have been avoided.
Our free guide explains what to check, which questions to ask and what to consider before making your decision.
Get in Touch
Need a chimney repair in Sunderland?
Inspections are free and carry no obligation. We will find the cause, explain it plainly and give you a written quote for putting it right.