Chimney & Leadwork
Chimney Repairs and Leadwork in Alloa and Clackmannanshire
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Damp patch beside the chimney breast? Mortar crumbling out of the stack? We carry out the chimney repairs Alloa homeowners rely on: repointing, capping, cowls and hand-dressed lead flashings that stop water at the source. Free, no-obligation assessments across the Forth Valley.
- 30+ Years Experience
- Free No-Obligation Quotes
- 100% Fully Insured
- 24/7 Emergency Callouts
Why Chimneys Leak (and Why It Is Rarely the Roof Itself)
A chimney is the most exposed part of any roof. It stands above the ridge, takes the full force of wind-driven rain from the south-west, and is built from materials that were never meant to last forever without attention. On the stone and brick chimneys we see across Alloa, Tillicoultry, Clackmannan and the wider Forth Valley, the same four faults account for almost every leak.
Pointing washes out of the mortar joints and water soaks straight into the stack. The flaunching (the mortar bed that holds the pots) cracks and lets rain into the flue. The lead flashing where the chimney meets the roof lifts, splits or was never dressed properly in the first place. And on rendered stacks, the render itself becomes porous with age. Water then tracks down inside the chimney breast and shows up as a damp patch on an upstairs ceiling or wall, often a long way from where it got in.
Because the symptoms appear indoors, homeowners often assume the roof covering is at fault. We see plenty of chimneys that have had new tiles fitted around them while the real problem, a failed flashing or open joints, was left alone. Our first job is always to diagnose properly. If the leak turns out to be a general roof repair rather than the chimney, we tell you that and quote for the right fix.
Chimney Repointing, Capping and Repairs
Repointing means raking out the failed mortar to a sound depth and re-filling the joints with a mix that suits the stack. On older stone chimneys in Clackmannanshire that usually means a lime-based mortar, which stays breathable and moves with the building; a hard cement mix on a soft stone stack will crack and trap water. A properly repointed chimney should not need attention again for 30 years or more.
If the chimney is no longer used, capping it is the sensible option. A vented cap or cowl keeps rain and birds out while still letting the flue breathe, which prevents the damp and staining that a sealed, unventilated flue causes inside the house. For chimneys that are still in use we fit cowls to suit the fuel, re-bed loose pots and replace cracked flaunching.
Where a stack is badly weathered we can rebuild the top courses or re-render it, and if a redundant stack needs taking down to roof level, ask us and we will advise on the options. We always give you the choices in plain terms with a written price for each, and we take care to match existing stone, brick and mortar colour so the repair does not stand out.
- Chimney repointing (lime and cement mixes)
- Cracked flaunching replaced
- Chimney capping and vented cowls
- Loose or cracked pots re-bedded
- Chimney re-rendering
- Weathered top courses rebuilt
Leadwork Done by Hand, Built to Last Decades
Lead is used in roofing for flashings, valleys, soakers, cover flashings and chimney dressings. When lead deteriorates, splits or lifts, it creates an entry point for water, and a poorly dressed flashing will fail long before the roof around it. We carry out all types of leadwork across the Forth Valley, from small flashing repairs to full lead valley replacements, as part of a chimney job or on its own.
We work with sheet lead to the industry standard set out by the Lead Sheet Training Academy, using the correct code (thickness) for the job, typically Code 4 for flashings and Code 5 for valleys and gutters, and dressing it by hand for a watertight fit against walls, chimneys, dormers and roof junctions. Lead fitted this way will last 50 years or more with minimal maintenance.
Common leadwork jobs include replacing lifted or cracked chimney flashings, re-lining lead valleys where water pools, installing new cover flashings where a roof meets a wall, and fitting lead soakers as part of slate and tile work. Every leadwork job comes with our written guarantee on workmanship and materials, and you can see recent examples in our project gallery.
- Chimney flashing replacement
- Lead valley re-lining
- Cover flashing installation
- Lead soakers
- Dormer cheek leadwork
- Flat roof lead details
Fully insured. Written guarantee. No obligation.
Chimney and Leadwork Questions
Why is my chimney leaking when the roof looks fine?
Most chimney leaks come from the stack itself, not the roof covering: washed-out pointing, cracked flaunching, lifted lead flashing or porous render. Water tracks down inside the chimney breast and appears as a damp patch some distance from the entry point. We inspect the stack, the flashings and the surrounding roof before quoting, so you pay for the right repair.
How much does chimney repointing cost in Alloa?
It depends on the height of the stack, how much mortar has failed, and the access needed. Scaffolding or a tower is the biggest variable, so we quote after seeing the chimney rather than guessing over the phone. Every quote is written, itemised and free, with no obligation to go ahead.
Do you need scaffolding to repair a chimney?
Usually, yes. Safe access is required for any work on a chimney stack, and a scaffold tower or roof-edge scaffold is normally the practical option. For quick inspections and minor flashing work we can sometimes use a cherry picker. We include access costs in the written quote so there are no surprises.
Should I repoint the chimney or replace the flashing?
Often both are needed, because they fail at the same age. If the joints are sound and only the lead has lifted, a flashing repair is enough. If mortar is crumbling out, repointing comes first, and we re-dress the flashing into the fresh joints. We only recommend the work the stack actually needs.
How long does new leadwork last?
Correctly specified and dressed lead lasts 50 years or more, often outliving the tiles around it. Failures are almost always down to lead that is too thin for the job, fixed in lengths that are too long, or dressed badly so it lifts in the wind. We use the correct code for each detail and fit it to Lead Sheet Training Academy guidance.
Other Services
Chimney Leaking or Looking Tired?
Send us a photo or fill in the form and we will arrange a free assessment. We will tell you honestly whether it is the pointing, the flashing or the roof, and give you a written price for the fix.
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