Chimney Repairs And Leadwork in Knutsford, Cheshire East

Lead might be one of the oldest building materials around, but there’s still nothing quite like it for keeping a roof watertight. If you look closely at where your chimney meets your roof tiles, you’ll see the lead flashing. Its job is to act as a flexible, waterproof bridge, but over time, the sun and frost can cause old lead to crack or pull away from the brickwork. We specialise in traditional leadwork, using the right Lead Codes (like Code 4 or Code 5) to ensure your flashings, soakers, and valleys are thick enough to handle the elements but flexible enough to move with your house. Most homeowners we speak to don't realise their 'roof leak' is actually just a bit of tired lead that’s given up the ghost. We can replace it using LSA standards, giving you peace of mind that next time the clouds burst over Knutsford, the water is staying firmly outside.

Is your chimney looking a bit 'sandy' around the edges? When the mortar between your bricks starts to crumble—a process we call 'spalling'—it’s more than just an eyesore. It allows water to soak into the stack, which can lead to damp inside your home and even structural issues if the frost gets into the gaps and expands. We provide professional repointing, carefully raking out the old, failing mortar and replacing it with a fresh, durable mix that matches your home’s character. We also pay close attention to the flaunching—that’s the sloped concrete 'hat' at the very top that holds your chimney pots in place. If that’s cracked, rain will run straight down into the flue. We can strip back the old cement and bed your pots in properly, ensuring the whole stack is stable and secure for years to come.

Do you have an unused fireplace that’s causing a draught, or perhaps you’re worried about local birds deciding your chimney makes a lovely nesting spot? It’s a common issue here in Cheshire East. Installing a chimney cowl or a breather cap is a simple, cost-effective way to protect your flues. A proper cowl prevents rain from falling directly down the chimney and stops downdraughts from blowing smoke back into your room, while capping off redundant chimneys helps keep the heat inside your house where it belongs. We can advise you on the best type of fitting for your specific chimney, ensuring there’s still enough ventilation to prevent condensation buildup while keeping the pests and the rain out. If you’re tired of hearing birds rustling in the stack, call us on 01244 727509 and we’ll get it sorted.

Sometimes, a bit of mortar and a new piece of lead isn't quite enough. If a chimney has been neglected for decades or has suffered serious storm damage, it can become a real safety hazard. You might notice the stack leaning slightly or see large cracks running through the brickwork. In these cases, we offer everything from partial rebuilds to full chimney removals. If you no longer use your fires and want to reclaim some space or simply get rid of a maintenance headache, we can safely remove the stack below the roofline and tile over the area so you’d never even know it was there. We manage the whole process, including any structural supports needed, so you don't have to worry about a thing. We’ll always give you an honest appraisal of whether a repair is viable or if a more permanent solution is the safer, more cost-effective way to go.