Brickwork, mortar, pots and roof junctions
Chimney repairs, repointing and leadwork.
Damp around a chimney can come from porous or damaged masonry, failed mortar, pots and flaunching, leadwork, the roof covering beside the stack or condensation within a disused flue. The inspection needs to consider those causes together.
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What homeowners notice
What to look for
- Damp around the chimney breast
- Open or sandy mortar joints
- Spalled or loose bricks
- Cracked flaunching around pots
- Lifted or split flashing
- Movement or leaning in the stack
What we can help with
Work included in this service.
Local brick replacement
Pot and flaunching work
Lead aprons, steps and back gutters
Partial rebuild discussion
Redundant-stack options
Repair or replace?
The right option depends on what we find.
Repoint
When the brickwork remains stable but exposed joints have weathered.
Rebuild a section
When individual bricks and upper courses have deteriorated beyond a dependable local repair.
Renew the lead detail
When water is entering at the roof-to-stack junction rather than through the masonry itself.
What affects the quote
What changes the price.
The price depends on the size and condition of the roof, safe access, materials and any hidden damage found during the work.
- 01
Stack height and access
- 02
Extent of brick replacement
- 03
Mortar and material matching
- 04
Lead detail complexity
- 05
Shared or party-wall position
- 06
Whether pots or flues remain in use
How the job works
From first contact to completed work.
- 01
Inspect masonry and junctions
Look at the stack, pots, flaunching, lead and nearby covering as one weathering detail.
- 02
Identify the viable repair
Distinguish maintenance, local reconstruction and larger structural work.
- 03
Agree the repair
Explain what can be reached safely and exactly what work is included.
- 04
Complete and weather
Finish masonry and lead details so water is directed back onto the roof covering.
Read before you decide
Guides related to this job.
Roofing
Emergency Chimney Repair in Birmingham
Signs your Birmingham chimney needs urgent repair - leaning stacks, failed leadwork, cracked flaunching, water ingress. Costs, timescales and what to do first.
Planning & Regulations
Conservation Area Roofing Birmingham 2026: Heritage Compliance & Traditional Materials
Expert guide to roofing in Birmingham conservation areas. Planning consent, traditional materials, slate vs clay tiles, and heritage compliance requirements.
Planning & Regulations
Birmingham Roofing Regulations & Planning 2026: Complete Compliance Guide
Birmingham roofing regulations explained - planning permission, Building Control, conservation areas, and compliance requirements for 2026 projects.
Before you contact us
What to send for a chimney repair quote
Tell us whether the fireplace or flue is still used. Repointing, rebuilding masonry and renewing flashing solve different problems, so the quote needs to follow the inspected cause.
- Your postcode and whether the chimney is shared with a neighbour
- Whether the problem is damp, loose masonry or visible movement
- Where the damp appears and whether it follows rain
- Ground-level photos of the stack and roof junction, if visible
North Birmingham coverage
Chimneys across our local areas.
Send the property postcode so J Dowd can confirm coverage and access before arranging a visit.
Practical answers
Chimneys questions
Does chimney damp always mean the flashing has failed?
No. Mortar, brickwork, flaunching, the flue and condensation can also contribute, so the whole stack should be considered.
Can a chimney be repointed without rebuilding it?
Yes, where the bricks and structure remain sound. Repointing cannot stabilise masonry that has already failed.
Can a redundant chimney be removed?
It may be possible, but the roof, structure, flue ventilation, ownership and any planning constraints need to be considered first.
Why is leadwork formed in separate pieces?
Lead needs to manage movement and water at different parts of the junction. Aprons, steps, soakers and back gutters each perform a different job.
Get a chimney quote
Send the postcode and roof details.
Tell J Dowd what you can see, when it started and anything that may affect access.