Chimney repointing in Exeter
Professional chimney repointing services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£210-£310
Typical Duration
4-6 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Chimney stack repointed with proper mortar. Rakes out old crumbling joints and replaces them to make the chimney weatherproof and structurally sound.
Before Your Chimney Gets Worse
Chimney mortar fails. It's exposed to wind, rain, and frost from all sides with no protection. When the joints deteriorate, water gets into the brickwork, frost damage starts, and you're looking at expensive brick replacement instead of simple repointing.
💡 Pro tip: Repointing a chimney when the mortar starts to go saves the bricks. Leave it too long and the bricks themselves start spalling - then you're into major repair territory.
Why Proper Chimney Repointing Matters
Slapping mortar over old joints doesn't work - it falls off within a year.
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Old mortar raked out properly | Just pointed over the top |
| Mortar matched to original (lime for old houses) | Hard cement on old bricks (cracks them) |
| Joints filled deeply, finished neatly | Smeared on surface, looks terrible |
| Will last 30+ years | Fails within 2-3 years |
What You Get
🔧 Complete Repointing Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Rake out | Old mortar removed to proper depth (not just surface) |
| Clean | Joints brushed clean, dampened ready for mortar |
| Repoint | New mortar pressed in, finished to match original |
| Check | Flaunching and chimney pot inspected for damage |
📦 You're Left With
- Weatherproof chimney stack
- Protected brickwork
- Professional finish
- Many more years of life
Pricing Guide
| Extent of Work | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Top section only | 4 hrs | £210 |
| Full stack (visible above roof) | 5 hrs | £260 |
| Large or double stack | 6+ hrs | £310+ |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Lime mortar included if needed.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Mortar crumbling - gaps in the joints, bits falling off
✅ Water stains on bedroom ceiling - chimney letting water in
✅ Before selling - surveyors always flag failing chimney mortar
✅ Preventative maintenance - catch it before the bricks go
Why Choose Us for Chimney repointing in Exeter?
Stops water penetrating the brickwork
Prevents frost damage and spalling
Extends chimney life significantly
Improves appearance of the stack
What to Expect
Step 1: Safe Access & Assessment
I get up to the chimney safely and have a proper look. Sometimes it's just one face that needs doing, sometimes the whole stack. I'll let you know what's actually needed.
Step 2: Rake Out & Clean
Old mortar gets raked out to depth - not just scratched off the surface. Joints cleaned and dampened so new mortar bonds properly.
Step 3: Repoint & Finish
Fresh mortar pressed right into the joints, finished to match the original style. Neat, weatherproof, job done.
🔧 DIY Tips
This is height work and skilled pointing - think hard before attempting yourself:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- SAFE roof and chimney access equipment
- Pointing trowel and hawk
- Mortar raking tool or old chisel
- Bucket for mixing mortar
- Stiff brush for cleaning joints
- Spray bottle for dampening
🪜 Safety critical
- Chimney work is even more exposed than roof work
- Proper scaffolding is safest - ladders are sketchy for this
- Never work in wind - you're very exposed up there
- Wear a harness if the pitch is steep
- Have someone on the ground watching
🧱 Pointing technique
- Rake out joints to at least 15-20mm depth
- Don't damage the brick edges while raking
- Brush joints clean and dampen before pointing
- Press mortar in firmly - don't just smear it on
- Finish joints to match surrounding brickwork style
- Keep new pointing damp for first few days (spray with water)
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Using wrong mortar (cement on old lime-mortared bricks)
- Not raking out deep enough
- Working in hot sun (mortar dries too fast and cracks)
- Smearing mortar on brick faces (looks awful)
- Not dampening joints first (new mortar won't bond)
💡 Pro trick: For old houses, mix 3:1 sand to hydrated lime with a bit of cement for strength. It matches the original, lets the bricks breathe, and won't crack the masonry like pure cement mortar does.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🏠 Victorian or older property? Your chimney was built with lime mortar. Using modern cement mortar traps moisture and damages the bricks. I use proper lime mortar mixes for old Exeter houses.
Flaunching (the mortar cap) cracked too? That often needs redoing when repointing the stack. I'll check it while I'm up there and include it in one job if needed.
Some bricks already spalling? If water damage has started breaking the brick faces, those bricks might need replacing. I'll point out what's needed - sometimes it's just a few bricks, catchable before it spreads.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my chimney needs repointing?
If the mortar is crumbling, has gaps you can poke your finger into, or bits are falling off onto the roof, it needs doing. Old lime mortar especially deteriorates over time - it's designed to be softer than the bricks.
Why does chimney mortar fail faster than the rest of the house?
Because it's up high getting hammered by wind, rain, and frost from all directions. No protection from overhanging eaves up there. Chimneys take more weathering than any other part of your house.
Do you use the same mortar as the original?
On older Exeter houses, the original is usually lime mortar. I match it - using hard cement mortar on old bricks causes more problems than it solves. The mortar should be softer than the bricks so it protects them.
How long does chimney repointing take?
Half a day to a full day typically, depending on how much of the stack needs doing and how bad the damage is. Sometimes just the top section, sometimes the whole stack from roof level up.
Will you check the flaunching while you're up there?
Always - that's the mortar cap around the chimney pot. If that's cracked, rain pours straight down into the stack. I'll let you know if it needs redoing and give you a price.
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