Chimney & Lead in Milton Keynes & Newport Pagnell

Yes. A leaning stack usually means the mortar joints have failed all the way through, the flaunching has cracked, or the upper courses have spalled. We strip the stack down to a sound course, salvage brick where we can, source matching reclaimed brick where we cannot, and rebuild in a lime or cement mortar suited to the property. Every rebuild ends with fresh flaunching, a new cap and Code 4 or 5 lead flashings. Request a free chimney survey.

On a standard residential chimney abutment we specify Code 4 for the apron and step flashings and Code 5 for the back gutter or saddle. Code 3 is only used for soakers behind slates or small step details. Code 6 is reserved for wide back gutters, valleys and heritage saddle detail. The right code is a function of the exposure, the detail length and the run of the water.

Yes. Any chimney rebuild, re-pointing at height, or full leadwork abutment goes up with proper independent scaffold. We arrange, book and price scaffold in the quote so there is no separate bill to manage. For very small single-flashing repairs on accessible stacks we may use a roof ladder and a working platform instead, and we will say which in the quote.

A standard residential chimney re-point takes 1 to 2 working days once the scaffold is up. Larger stacks, listed properties and stacks that also need re-flaunching, a new cap and fresh leadwork usually run to 3 or 4 working days. We give a realistic date range in the written quote and stick to it.

Yes. Where a chimney is still in use for an open fire, stove or gas appliance we can install a stainless steel flexible liner or a pumice re-line, sized to the appliance and swept beforehand. Where a chimney is redundant we can cap and vent it instead to stop damp and bird ingress without sealing it airtight.

Yes. We fit anti-downdraught cowls, bird guards, capping cowls for redundant flues and stove-rated cowls where an appliance is in use. Cowl choice is driven by whether the flue is live, prevailing wind exposure and the local bird pressure. We fit stainless where corrosion is a risk.

Yes. All chimney leadwork we install is covered by our fully insured and by a in writing. The lead itself carries the manufacturer warranty on top, typically 50 years and often longer with correct dressing and patination.

Both, and we say honestly which is right. A single tear, a lifted edge or a pointing failure is a repair. A perished, thin or oxidised lead run, or a wrong-code flashing that never sat right, is a replacement in Code 4 or Code 5, dressed and pointed traditionally.

Damp on the chimney breast usually comes from one of four places: a failed cap or flaunching letting rain into the flue, perished pointing on the stack, split or lifted lead flashings at the abutment, or hygroscopic salts from historic use of the flue. A proper roof and loft inspection tells you which one, and only that answer gets the right fix.

Yes. Clarkson Roofing is fully insured, including all chimney rebuilds and leadwork. Materials carry the manufacturer warranty on top.