03/10/2025
Chimney Survey Today
Our Client was having continual issues with a leaking chimney, despite a roofing contractor carrying out works. We were able to check the chimney via the use of our drone and be able to get to the area's that your unable to with binoculars from the ground, and taking high resolution pictures. (And it's always neat to get the drone out !).
You can see various defects on the pictures, namely: Spalled brickwork, cracked flaunching, missing pointing and lead flashing issues.
Lead flashing is designed to keep water out where the roof meets walls, chimneys, or other junctions. Lead is a very durable material and can often last for decades, but over time it can still deteriorate. The main reasons are:
Movement – lead expands in hot weather and contracts in cold. If it is not installed in short sections, it can crack or split.
Weathering – years of sun, wind, rain, and frost gradually wear the metal, sometimes causing small holes or fatigue cracks.
Fixings and mortar – the mortar joints or nails that hold the flashing in place can loosen, allowing the lead to lift and let water in.
Corrosion – although lead naturally protects itself with a grey surface coating, in damp or acidic conditions it can still corrode over time.
When flashing starts to fail, it often shows as lifted edges, splits, staining on nearby brickwork, or dampness inside the property. If left untreated, water can pe*****te around the roof junctions and cause damage to internal finishes and timbers.
Regular inspection and timely repair or replacement will usually prevent more serious problems.
Our recommendations to the Client, were:
Gain quotes based on a site survey and the potential works detailed below.
Removal of spalled brickwork, repoint where required.
Repair the cracked flaunching.
Remove the aerial and co-axial cabling (they don't use the aerial).
Remove the lead flashing incorporate lead soakers/trough and refix new lead flashing.
Allow the roof timbers to dry and keep an eye on the area in the coming months.
