Norwich Roofers rebuilds chimney stacks in Long Stratton from the top courses upward, using matching brick and mortar to restore the stack's integrity and appearance.
A chimney rebuild is not a patch repair. It means taking down the deteriorated upper courses of the stack, usually from the first sound course of brickwork below the damaged section, and rebuilding from there using bricks and mortar that match the existing as closely as possible. Chimney work should always be carried out from a properly erected scaffold platform, never from a ladder leaned against the chimney.
The flaunching (the mortar bed that holds the pots) is replaced at the same time. If the pots themselves are cracked, new ones go in. Once the stack is rebuilt, the flashing at the base where the chimney meets the roof slope is inspected, and replaced if it is lifting or corroded. A rebuild done properly addresses the stack as a whole, not just the visible damage.
A typical chimney rebuild in the UK costs in the region of £1,000 to £2,500 depending on the height of the stack, how many courses need to come down, access difficulty, and whether flashings or pots need replacing alongside. Taller or more complex stacks on older properties can sit above that range. Those figures assume scaffold is included, which it must be for safe working at height.
This is the part most homeowners skip, and it is where things go wrong. Chimney work is one of the most inconsistently priced and inconsistently executed jobs in roofing. A low quote is not always good value. Here is what to establish before you sign anything or pay a deposit.
If a contractor says they can rebuild your chimney without scaffold, walk away. Safe working at height regulations require a proper platform for any sustained work on a chimney stack. Anyone offering to do the job from a ladder is cutting corners on safety and almost certainly cutting corners on the work itself. Ask specifically: is scaffold included in your price, and will it be a full platform or a tower? Get the answer in writing.
Matching brick matters more than people realise. A stack rebuilt in the wrong brick colour or texture is obvious from the street and can affect the look of the property. Ask the contractor how they intend to match the existing brick. In practice, a close match from a reclaimed brick supplier or a well-chosen modern equivalent is usually achievable. Ask to see a sample before work starts if colour matters to you.
Mortar mix is equally important. Many chimney failures happen because the original lime-based mortar was repointed or rebuilt using modern cement mortar, which is too hard and inflexible. As the stack moves slightly with temperature and wind, the mortar cracks the brick faces rather than flexing. Ask what mortar specification the contractor uses, and whether it suits the age and construction of your property.
A contractor who gives you a price without inspecting the stack closely, or who quotes to rebuild "the top two courses" without explaining how they assessed the damage, may be underscoping the job. A proper assessment looks at which courses are structurally sound, whether there is frost damage below the obvious spalling, and whether the stack has moved or leaned. Ask how they determined the extent of the rebuild, and what happens to the price if more damage is found once the scaffold is up and the work begins.
None of these questions are awkward. Any experienced roofer will answer them without hesitation. If a contractor is evasive or dismissive, that tells you something useful before you have parted with any money.
Be cautious of anyone who cold-calls or knocks at your door saying they have spotted damage to your chimney while working nearby. Doorstep chimney traders can be a problem, and a legitimate contractor does not need to drum up work that way.
Be equally cautious of a quote that arrives as a round number with no breakdown. You should be able to see what you are paying for: scaffold, labour, materials, pot replacement, flashing inspection, waste removal. If those are lumped into a single figure and the contractor cannot or will not itemise them, press for an explanation.
A very low quote often means the scaffold has been left out, the rebuild is shallower than it should be, or cheap materials are being used. It can also mean the contractor intends to ask for more money once work has started and the stack is already partially dismantled. Agreeing a clear scope in writing before work begins protects you from that scenario.
If your chimney is used with a wood burner, multi-fuel stove, or open fire, the internal flue condition matters as much as the external stack. Cracks in the flue liner or mortar joints inside the stack allow combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, to migrate into the house. A CCTV flue inspection before or during a rebuild gives you a clear picture of whether the liner is intact. It is worth commissioning one if the chimney has not been inspected internally in the last few years, especially before relighting a stove after the rebuild is complete.
Norwich Roofers carries out chimney rebuilds in Long Stratton and across the wider Norwich area. Call us to arrange a roof survey so we can assess the stack properly and give you a clear, itemised price before any work is agreed.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
