Service
Chimney repairs and roof leadwork
Short answer
Most chimney leaks come from failed lead flashing, cracked mortar or a damaged crown. A roofer can renew the lead, repoint the stack in lime mortar, and re-set loose pots. Small like-for-like repairs need no consent. A new or rebuilt chimney usually needs it. Compare the local firms that list chimney and lead work.
Firms found on a trade register first, then A to Z.
| Firm | Based in | Does | Checks | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cirencester Roofing Company | Cirencester GL7 | Tiled roofs, Slate, Stone slate, Leadwork | 01285 672992Website | |
| Cotswold Period RoofingLtd company 06708480 | Badsey WR11 | Roof repairs, Chimneys, Flat roofs, Leadwork, +4 | 0800 955 8059Website | |
| Empire Roofing Services (Oxford) LtdLtd company 12402998 | Witney OX29 | Flat roofs, Slate, Stone slate, Tiled roofs, +8 | 01993 259226Website | |
| W J Morley & Son (Roofing) LtdLtd company 00664487 | Gloucester GL2 | Roof repairs, Flat roofs, Slate, Tiled roofs, +2 | 01452 526680Website | |
| Woodstock RoofingLtd company 00854062 | Chipping Norton OX7 | Flat roofs, Slate, Tiled roofs, Stone slate, +4 | 01608 644 644Website | |
| Allsworth Roofing LtdLtd company 04184610 | Carterton OX18 | Stone slate, Slate, Tiled roofs, Re-roofing, +5 | Trading, no register found | 01993 846444Website |
| Always Roofing And Home Improvements | Chipping Norton OX7 | Roof repairs, Re-roofing, Flat roofs, Chimneys, +2 | Trading, no register found | 07473 151 362Website |
| Bonner & Milner LtdLtd company 06303033 | Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 | Stone slate, Slate, Tiled roofs, Re-roofing, +3 | Trading, no register found | 01386 701 261Website |
| Cotswold Countryside RoofingLtd company 15518792 | Cheltenham GL51 | Re-roofing, Emergency repairs, Flat roofs, Leadwork, +7 | Trading, no register found | 01452 458131Website |
| Cotswold Pitch Roofing and Repairs | Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 | Re-roofing, Roof repairs, Chimneys, Guttering and roofline | Trading, no register found | 07989 664605Website |
| Cotswold Roof Co. | Tewkesbury GL20 | Slate, Tiled roofs, Stone slate, Listed and heritage, +4 | Trading, no register found | 01242 805149Website |
| Cotswold Roofer | Malmesbury | Stone slate, Listed and heritage, Leadwork | Trading, no register found | Website |
| Everest Roofing (Oxford) LtdLtd company 01200288 | Eynsham OX29 | Stone slate, Slate, Tiled roofs, Leadwork, +2 | Trading, no register found | 01865 881 685Website |
| G Dowdeswell & Sons Roofing | Stroud | Stone slate, Re-roofing, Roof repairs, Slate, +1 | Trading, no register found | 01452 771 167Website |
| Gardner Roofing LLPLtd company OC332910 | Fairford GL7 | Tiled roofs, Slate, Stone slate, Leadwork | Trading, no register found | 01285 712121Website |
| Heritage Roofing Company (Oxford) LtdLtd company 05206830 | Bampton OX18 | Stone slate, Slate, Flat roofs, Leadwork, +4 | Trading, no register found | 01993 705874Website |
| Hopper RoofingLtd company 13128590 | Cirencester GL7 | Flat roofs, Leadwork, Roof repairs, Re-roofing, +1 | Trading, no register found | 07510338881Website |
| JM Roofing Contractors | Bourton-on-the-Water GL54 | Stone slate, Tiled roofs, Re-roofing, Roof repairs, +3 | Trading, no register found | 07867 425 844Website |
| Kents Roofing | Cirencester GL7 | Stone slate, Flat roofs, Leadwork, Roof repairs | Trading, no register found | 01285 659126Website |
| Morse Roofing & ScaffoldingLtd company 10281135 | Down Ampney GL7 | Stone slate, Slate, Tiled roofs, Leadwork, +4 | Trading, no register found | 01285 713 779Website |
| MT & Sons RoofingLtd company 13001423 | Witney OX28 | Roof repairs, Re-roofing, Flat roofs, Slate, +5 | Trading, no register found | 07842 085106Website |
| P. L. Allard Building & Roofing LtdLtd company 10700255 | Painswick GL6 | Roof repairs, Re-roofing, Slate, Tiled roofs, +4 | Trading, no register found | 01242 383279Website |
| WDV Roofing & Property MaintenanceLtd company 16585335 | Stroud | Slate, Tiled roofs, Stone slate, Flat roofs, +3 | Trading, no register found | 07591 564096Website |
| WN Roofing | Cheltenham GL50 | Re-roofing, Tiled roofs, Slate, Leadwork, +5 | Trading, no register found | 01242 373557Website |
| Wychwood RoofingLtd company 14800523 | Milton-under-Wychwood OX7 | Stone slate, Slate, Tiled roofs, Leadwork, +3 | Trading, no register found | 01993 831944Website |
No firms match. Clear a filter to see more.
What chimney and lead work involves
Chimney work repairs the stack and the joint where it meets the roof. Leadwork seals that joint and other joints, such as valleys, abutments and dormer cheeks.
Common jobs are new lead flashings, soakers and back gutters, repointing, a new crown, and re-setting loose pots. A roofer may also cap a chimney that is no longer used, with a vent so it stays dry.
Most stack work needs scaffolding. The roofer should include it in the quote. Ask for photos of the finished work, because you cannot see the top of the stack from the ground.
Local Cotswold factors
Many Cotswold chimneys are limestone, either ashlar or rubble. Old stone needs lime mortar. Hard cement mortar can trap damp and damage the stone.
On stone slate roofs, some old joints at the stack were sealed with mortar fillets, not lead. Lead is more reliable, but on a listed building ask the council before you change a detail.
Chimneys are often a key part of how a building looks. Cotswold District Council asks owners to discuss chimney work with its conservation team, especially on listed buildings.
Signs you need chimney or lead work
You need work when water gets in near the stack, or when the stack itself is loose or cracked.
- Damp patches on the chimney breast or the ceiling beside it.
- Lead that has lifted, split or come away from the joint.
- Missing or crumbling mortar between the stones.
- A cracked crown or loose pots.
- A stack that leans. Keep people away and call a roofer soon.
What to ask a roofer
Ask how the roofer will find the leak and which materials they will use.
- Is the leak from the lead, the stack, the crown or the roof next to it?
- Will you repoint in lime mortar?
- Will you renew the soakers as well as the flashing?
- Is scaffolding in the price?
The rules for chimney work
Like-for-like repairs to a chimney usually need no planning permission. Bigger changes can need consent and Building Regulations approval.
Cotswold District Council says a new chimney nearly always needs planning permission and must meet Building Regulations. On a listed building, removing, lowering or changing a stack usually needs listed building consent. Ask the council first.
Birds often nest in chimneys and at the eaves. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are protected, so plan work outside the breeding season where you can.
Questions
Can I use silicone or a sealant instead of lead?
Only as a short-term fix. A sealant does not last as long as dressed lead, and it can hide the real fault.
Should I remove a chimney I no longer use?
Ask the council first if the house is listed or in a conservation area. Capping and venting is often simpler than removal.
What does chimney and lead work cost?
Our guide Chimney and lead flashing cost explains what changes the price, such as scaffolding and the size of the stack.
Sources
- Cotswold District Council: Traditional chimneys, technical guide (1999)
- Cotswold District Council: Historic building features guidance
- Cotswold District Council: Listed buildings
- Cotswold District Council: Cotswold Stone Slate Roofing, technical guidance (2000)
- GOV.UK and Natural England: Wild birds, protection and licences