Accessing Chimneys

Do I need Scaffolding?

If you need help and advise with regard to chimneys, roof problems, surveys, building surveys, structural reports/engineers reports/specific defects report, structural surveys, home buyers reports or any other property matters please call 0800 298 5424 for a friendly chat.

For all but the lowest chimneys you are likely to need scaffolding. Some builders will carry out repairs to single storey brick chimneys from ladders and crawler boards, although this is not ideal, most will want scaffolding. As you are responsible for their safety while they are carrying out work on your property if they don't use scaffolding we would recommend that you insist that they do! In most cases tower scaffolding will not be acceptable as it simply doesn't get close enough to the chimney, you will have to have scaffolding put up specifically for the chimney work.

It is worth considering what other high level repairs you can do at the same time, for example to the roof itself, the guttering, facia boards, first floor windows, high level brickwork / stonework etc.

Flashing that has come out to the base of the chimney is due to weathering	Repointed Chimney

 

Scaffolding on a property can be expensive and it is particularly important to ensure that there is a fixed price for the scaffolding, as any unforeseen work can not only run up costs associated with the extra building work, but also the extra cost of hiring the scaffolding. If you have a great deal of high level work to do it may well be worth buying your own scaffolding, but you do of course have to have it put up properly and checked and re-checked periodically.

Scaffolding

Render to the chimneys deteriorating and letting in dampness

We often find that rendered chimneys are not as good as they should be, with cracks, damage and deterioration allowing in dampness. The simple answer is to scaffold the chimney and repair the render, checking for any blown render. As mentioned, at the same time any other repair work needed should be carried out.
	Rendered chimney with moss

The flashings are defective to the chimney and allowing in water

	There are several sorts of flashings that we commonly come across. These are lead flashings, in our opinion the best sort, cement flashings, in our opinion the worst sort, and tile on edge flashings, in our opinion nearly the worst sort.
Stone chimney, with cement flashing that needs replacing

Our advice is quite simple, if you don't have a lead flashing you need to remove what you've got and replace it with a lead flashing. Both the concrete flashings and the tile on edge flashings will work loose, crack and allow dampness in sooner or later.
	Tile on edge chimney, heavily mossed

With a lead flashing you need to ensure that the flashing is cut into the joints of the brickwork or stonework properly with a soaker and not literally stuck in place, as we sometimes find. Also the way that the lead flashing is bedded in is very important. A cement mortar that is too hard can cause problems in years to come.

Stone and brick chimney, with vegetation growing from it	Weathered pointing

Chimneys Main Page

Common Chimney Problems

You may also be interested in the following articles:

Structural Cracking

Repairing Cracks

Structural Reports

Estimating Building Costs

Information on Engineers Reports

Specific Defects Reports

Dampness Articles

If you need help and advise with regard to chimneys, roof problems, surveys, building surveys, structural reports/engineers reports/specific defects report, structural surveys, home buyers reports or any other property matters please call 0800 298 5424 for a friendly chat. Please note we are independent chartered surveyors.

If you would like Dilaps Help then please visit our www.DilapsHelp.com website and for Disputes go to our Disputes Help site www.DisputesHelp.com .

We hope you found the article of use and if you have any experiences that you feel should be added to this article that would benefit others, or you feel that some of the information that we have put is wrong then please do not hesitate to contact us (we are only human).

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Common Chimney Problems

Accessing Chimneys - Do I need Scaffolding?

Why are Chimney repairs so Expensive?

You may also be interested in the following articles:

Structural Cracking

Repairing Cracks

Structural Reports

Estimating Building Costs

Information on Engineers Reports

Specific Defects Reports

Dampness Articles