Repaired chimney stack with new lead flashing installed by White Horse Roofing, Oxfordshire

Chimney Repairs · Oxfordshire, Berkshire & the Cotswolds

Chimney Repairs,
Rebuilds & Flashings
Across Oxfordshire.

Chimneys are the most weather-exposed part of any roof. We rebuild, repoint, re-flash and cap them properly — with matched materials, code-4 lead and a written workmanship guarantee.

Get Your Free Quote 07522 468971

1,500+ jobs completed since 2017 · £1M public liability

Established 2017

1,500+ Jobs Completed

15-Yr Workmanship Guarantee

£1M Public Liability Insurance

Checkatrade 9.78/10

The Service

What chimney repairs is,
and who it's for.

Chimneys take more punishment than any other part of a roof. They project into the wind, they collect the heat and moisture of every fire below them, and they rely on lead flashings and mortar joints that have a finite life. When either goes, water finds its way inside — usually appearing as a damp patch on a bedroom ceiling.

White Horse Roofing carries out chimney repairs, full rebuilds, lead flashing replacement, repointing, pot replacement and capping across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and the Cotswolds. All work is fixed price, in writing, and backed by a written workmanship guarantee.

Who it's for

Homeowners with damp patches around a chimney breast, staining on the wall next to a chimney, or visibly deteriorating brickwork and lead work. Owners of period properties whose chimneys have not been touched in decades. Anyone whose recent survey has flagged the chimney as a defect.

When it's needed

As soon as you see damp near a chimney breast, missing mortar between courses, lead that is torn, split or lifted away from the brickwork, or a pot that is visibly cracked or leaning. Chimney work is one area where deterioration is exposed — a small crack becomes a fallen pot in one bad storm.

Why professional

Chimneys involve working at height on the most exposed part of the roof, often with scaffold required. Lead work in particular is a specialist skill — codes must be right, welts and lap joints formed by hand, and the whole detail dressed to shed water for decades. Cheap sealant-based repairs on chimney flashings routinely fail within 2 winters.

What Happens If Ignored

The cost of leaving it
until next winter.

A chimney failure lets water into two places at once — down inside the flue where it damages plasterwork on every floor it passes, and along the flashing detail where it rots the roof timbers around the chimney base. Left long enough, a full rebuild becomes the only economic option — often at 5 to 10 times the cost of the original repair.

Common problems we see

Failed or split lead flashings around the chimney base
Crumbling mortar joints and open perpends in the stack
Cracked, spalled or leaning brickwork
Loose, cracked or missing pots and cappings

Mistakes to avoid

×Sealing a lead flashing with mastic or flashband instead of dressing new lead — fails in one winter
×Repointing frost-damaged brickwork with hard cement mortar — accelerates spalling, not stops it
×Fitting a hood cap on a chimney still in use for a wood-burner — restricts flue draw and creates condensation problems

Our Process

Five steps. No day rates.
No surprises.

Survey

Full inspection from scaffold or tower — brickwork, pointing, flashing, pots and cappings all assessed. Photographic record taken.

Diagnosis

Root cause of any water ingress identified — flashing, pointing, pot, cap or crown — and explained to you clearly.

Fixed Quote

Written quote covering all necessary work, scaffold, materials, disposal and warranty period — fixed price in writing.

Repair or Rebuild

Work carried out by our own team using matching brick, lime or cement mortar as appropriate, code-4/5 lead and properly bedded pots.

Sign-Off & Guarantee

Final walk-round with photos, site cleared, scaffold struck. Written workmanship guarantee issued.

Recent Work

Real jobs, real roofs.

Recent chimney repairs projects completed by White Horse Roofing Services across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and the Cotswolds.

Chimney repair — after photo 1 by White Horse Roofing Services, Oxfordshire — Chimney repair & re-flash — drag to compare before & after.

Chimney repair — after photo 2 by White Horse Roofing Services, Oxfordshire

What You Get

Specific benefits.
No vague claims.

Every point below is something we do on every job — not a marketing line. Ask us at the survey and we'll show you exactly how.

Root-Cause Diagnosis

We find the actual leak path — not just seal over the visible symptom.

Code-4/5 Lead

Proper lead flashings, dressed and formed to shed water for decades.

Matched Mortars

Lime mortar on heritage stacks, cement where appropriate — never the wrong mix.

Proper Access

Scaffold where the job needs it. Included in the fixed quote.

Fully Insured

£1M public liability on every job.

Written Guarantee

Workmanship warranty in writing, appropriate to the scope of the work.

In Detail

The specifics —
materials, methods, situations.

Types of chimney work we carry out

Lead flashing replacement — soakers, step and cover flashings, saddle flashings, apron flashings. Code-4 or code-5 lead, dressed by hand and secured with lead wedges and mortar pointing.

Repointing — raking out failed joints to a proper depth and repointing in the correct mortar for the age of the property. Lime mortar on heritage stacks, cement or NHL mortars on modern brickwork.

Rebuilds — from a few courses above the roof line up to full stack rebuilds. Matched brick or stone, correct bonding, new flaunching to bed the pots, and full lead reinstatement.

Pot and cap replacement — new pots bedded in flaunching, chimney caps for redundant flues, terminals for live flues on wood-burners and gas appliances.

Working on heritage chimneys

Heritage and listed chimneys need lime mortar, matching bricks or stone, and detailing sympathetic to the age of the property. We work with reclaimed materials wherever possible, and coordinate with conservation officers on listed properties. Cement mortar on a lime-built chimney will cause the bricks themselves to fail — using the right material is not optional.

Live flues, redundant flues and ventilation

Live flues (in use for wood-burners, open fires or gas) need appropriate terminals and cannot be simply capped. Redundant flues should be capped with a vented cowl — never sealed — to prevent condensation building up in the flue and damaging chimney breasts on floors below. We advise on the correct spec for your setup at survey stage.

Related services

Chimney Repairs available in

Not sure if we cover your postcode? Ask us

FAQ

Everything homeowners
ask us about chimney repairs.

Something not covered? Call 07522 468971 and we'll answer it directly.

How much does chimney repair cost?+

Lead flashing replacement typically £450 to £1,200 depending on access and size. Partial rebuilds from £1,500. Full stack rebuilds £2,500 to £6,000+. Every price is fixed in writing after survey.

Do I need scaffold?+

Almost always for stack work — chimneys sit on ridges or high on the roof and cannot be safely worked from ladder. Scaffold is included in every fixed quote so you see the cost upfront.

How long does a chimney rebuild take?+

Lead flashing replacement 1 to 2 days. Partial rebuilds 2 to 4 days. Full stack rebuilds 5 to 10 days depending on size, access and material. Mortar cure time factored in before scaffold strike.

Can you match my existing brick or stone?+

Yes — we source reclaimed and matching bricks and Cotswold stone specifically for chimney work so the rebuild blends into the property rather than standing out.

Do you cap redundant chimneys?+

Yes — with vented caps so the flue can breathe and no moisture builds up inside. Sealing a redundant flue completely causes long-term condensation damage to chimney breasts below.

Do you offer emergency chimney repairs call-outs?+

Yes. For storm damage, active leaks and make-safes across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and the Cotswolds, call us and we will aim to get a surveyor to you the same day. Emergency temporary works can usually be carried out on the first visit so the property is watertight before a permanent repair is scheduled.

Is the quote free?+

Yes for owner-occupied properties. For homes you have not yet bought there is a £100 pre-purchase survey fee — fully deducted from the final quote if you go ahead. Every quote is fixed price, in writing, itemised and never a day rate.

What guarantee do you offer?+

Full re-roofs carry a 15-year workmanship guarantee. Flat roofs carry a 10-year workmanship guarantee. Repairs are covered by a written workmanship warranty appropriate to the scope. All work is backed by £1M public liability cover.

How do payments work?+

A deposit secures your slot in the diary. The balance is paid by bank transfer on completion. On larger projects we offer sensible stage payments so you are never paying ahead of the work delivered.

Which areas do you cover?+

Oxfordshire, Berkshire and the Cotswolds — including Oxford, Abingdon, Didcot, Wantage, Witney, Reading, Newbury, Cirencester and Faringdon. If you are close to the edge of that radius, call us — we can usually help.

Ready to sort it?

Book a same-day survey
and a fixed-price quote.

Family-run, fully insured, and backed in writing. Every quote is fixed price — no day rates, no drift. Call us or send a few details and we'll be in touch today.