Chimney Repairs Fife and Edinburgh

Your chimney is the usually the weakest point in your house for defects and moisture penetration.

It rises above the roofline, completely exposed to the worst of the elements.

And yet, it is often the most overlooked part: out of sight, out of mind.

This is especially true when, as so often, the chimney is no longer used for its original purpose.

Many houses switched from coal fires to gas central heating from the mid-1970s onwards.

This central heating was powered by a back boiler, with the heat source often tucked away in the redundant coal fireplace, behind a gas fire.

So, although the fireplace was no longer being used to burn coal, it was still in action as a flue for the fire and the central heating unit.

Nowadays, condensing boilers have taken over.

Fireplaces are often covered over and forgotten, along with the chimney.

If there is no fire burning in the fireplace, the usual methods of simply boiling away and evaporating any penetrating water or moisture that may find its way into the chimney structure are no longer happening.

When chimneys are still in active use, they provide ventilation for hot flue gases or smoke from boilers, stoves or fire places taking the gases or smoke up the chimney stack and releasing them into the atmosphere.

Therefore, it’s pretty crucial that they are maintained in good condition.

What can go wrong?

Whether or not your chimney is still in use, there are a number of things that can go wrong with it.

Chimney pots are made of clay, which is vulnerable to cracking or damage from nearby trees or debris flying in high winds.

At the foot of the pots is the flaunching, which seals the pots in place and drives away rainwater; constructed from mortar, this can crack or crumble over time.

The pointing that holds the masonry of the chimney together can wear over time, allowing in moisture that can corrode bricks.

Metal flashings around the base of the chimney can crack, as can the lead or zinc back gutter.

With a roughcast chimney, any crack in the rendering will allow in water, which will be trapped and soak into the fabric of the chimney stack.

Modern chimneys are fitted with a lead tray, which is essentially a damp proof course, preventing moisture travelling down the stack and into the fabric of your building.

If this has been damaged in any way, it can sometimes be repaired without dismantling the chimney stack.

In older properties, there may not be a lead tray fitted. In these cases, it is worth discussing whether to remove the chimney stack completely or to partially rebuild in order to install the lead tray.

Repairs

Our chimney services range from chimney repairs such as replacing individual bricks, roughcasting, re-pointing, replacing chimney pots, capping them when no longer in use, fitting lead work around your chimney, repairing, replacing or installing a lead tray chimney damp proof course or even removing a complete chimney stack.

Throughout Fife, Edinburgh, Perth and Aberdeen our professional building services also offer complete chimney rebuilds whether it be modern or traditional, finished in traditional stone or roughcasting.

Replacement Chimney Fife and Edinburgh

If you’re looking for a replacement chimney, we’re able to source a wide range of styles to match your house style.

We also install cowls to ensure birds and animals can’t climb in your chimney pot, and we’re able to supply and fit entirely ornamental pots which are designed to give the property a good look and enhance your aesthetics.

Professional Roofing Repairs Fife and Edinburgh

Although repair work may appear straightforward, ensure your builder or tradespeople have the skills for the job.

If in any doubt, get a specialist roofing company to specify and organise the repair.

Guarantee That Means Something

All of our work is guaranteed. You may have heard that before from other builders, but let us explain why we are different.

We are trusted and recommended members of the Federation of Master Builders, Guild of Master Craftsmen, the Construction Skills Certificate Scheme.

We are fully insured and we’ve been in our premises in Thornton since 2008, so our customers know where we are if they have any questions once we’ve finished the job.

Contact Us

If you would like more information or a free estimate, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Fife: phone 01592 747 047 Email: [email protected]

Edinburgh: phone 0131 300 0494 Email: [email protected]