Roofing & building across Harrogate & North Yorkshire Fully insured · Free quotes · info@eliteroofingbuilding.co.uk
Chimney pots and scaffolding during a chimney repair in Harrogate

Chimney Repairs Harrogate · Elite Roofing & Building

Chimney Repairs in Harrogate

A damp patch that keeps coming back, mortar in the gutter or a chimney pot that doesn’t look straight any more? We repair chimney stacks of every age across Harrogate – from tall Victorian stone stacks to brick chimneys on post-war semis – and show you the problem before we quote.

07482 333 160
  • 25+years’ experience
  • 500+projects completed
  • Fully insured & guaranteed

Free, no-obligation quote

Step 1 of 3

What do you need help with?
Tell us a bit about the job
When do you need it doing?
How can we reach you?

We’ll only use your details to reply about this job. Privacy

Stone chimney stack on a slate roof in Harrogate

Local chimney specialists

Chimney Repair Specialists in Harrogate

Harrogate’s Victorian and Edwardian houses were built with big, tall chimney stacks – often several flues wide and fully exposed to the weather blowing across the Stray. After a century or more, the mortar, lead and flaunching all wear out. Elite Roofing & Building gets up close to the stack, works out exactly where the water or movement is coming from and repairs it with materials that suit the house, from lime mortar on sandstone to new lead on a brick stack.

Book a free survey

Early warning signs

Signs Your Chimney Needs Attention

Chimney problems tend to show up slowly. If you spot any of these, it’s worth getting the stack looked at before the damage spreads:

  1. Damp on the chimney breast

    Brown staining, bubbling paint or wallpaper lifting near the fireplace or in the loft.

  2. Worn joints

    Mortar recessed well back from the face, or bits of it on the roof slope below.

  3. Loose or split lead

    Flashing that has lifted, split or come out of the joint around the stack.

  4. Tilted pots

    Pots that lean, rock in the wind or sit in cracked flaunching.

  5. Nests or debris

    Twigs, soot or rainwater falling into a fireplace that’s no longer used.

  6. Movement in the stack

    A chimney that bows, leans or has open cracks – get it checked promptly.

Not sure what you’re looking at?

Chimney stacks with lead flashing
Free surveyfor chimney leaks & damp

01 · Chimney Leaks & Damp

Chimney Leak Repairs in Harrogate

If there’s a damp patch on the chimney breast that never quite dries out, the cause is almost always up on the roof. We track down where water is getting into the stack and repair it properly, so the wall inside can finally dry.

A chimney can let water in at the top, down the sides or through the masonry itself. Without checking it up close, it’s easy to fix the wrong thing and still have damp next winter.

We look at the stack from the roof and the inside wall, photograph anything we find and recommend the repair that deals with the actual cause – with a fixed price before any work starts.

  • Checked inside & out
  • Real cause found
  • Photos sent to you
  • Fixed written quote
  • Leak stopped at source
  • Drying-out advice
Quote for chimney leaks & damp
Chimney stack being repointed
Free surveyfor chimney repointing

02 · Chimney Repointing

Chimney Repointing in Harrogate

Chimneys catch the weather on every side, so their mortar wears out far quicker than the walls below. We rake out the tired joints and repoint the stack to keep the rain out and the masonry solid.

Once the mortar has weathered back, water sits in the joints and freezes in winter, slowly working the bricks or stones loose. Left long enough, it can lead to damp inside and a stack that needs rebuilding.

We remove the failed mortar to a proper depth and repoint with a mix that suits your chimney – lime for sandstone and older brick, and a colour-matched finish so the work blends in with the rest of the house.

  • Joints raked to depth
  • Mortar to suit the stack
  • Colour-matched finish
  • Loose bricks re-bedded
  • Roof left clean
  • Before & after photos
Quote for chimney repointing
Chimney flashings on a tiled roof
Free surveyfor chimney lead flashing

03 · Chimney Lead Flashing

Chimney Lead Flashing in Harrogate

Where the chimney meets the roof is where most leaks begin. We replace tired, split or poorly fitted lead with new flashings cut and dressed to fit your stack properly.

Every chimney needs a front apron, stepped flashings down each side and a back gutter behind. Old lead becomes brittle, mortar holding it in the joint falls out and previous repairs with mastic or tape rarely last.

We take out the failed lead, fit new flashings in the right weight, wedge and point them into the masonry and dress them neatly over the slates or tiles.

  • Failed lead stripped
  • Right lead weight
  • Wedged & pointed in
  • Neatly dressed
  • No mastic patches
  • Photos when done
Terracotta chimney pots with scaffold access
Free surveyfor flaunching & pots

04 · Flaunching & Pots

Chimney Flaunching & Pot Repairs in Harrogate

The flaunching on top of your stack holds the pots in place and sheds rain away. Once it cracks, water gets in and the pots start to loosen. We rebuild it and make the pots safe.

Big Harrogate stacks often carry a row of pots, and the flaunching around them takes a battering from frost and wind. Hairline cracks soon open up, letting water into the top courses of the chimney.

We remove the old flaunching, re-bed or replace the pots and form new flaunching with a good fall so rain runs straight off.

  • Old flaunching removed
  • Pots re-bedded
  • Good fall formed
  • Matching pots sourced
  • Safe access
  • Debris taken away
Quote for flaunching & pots
Chimney stack on a roof
Free surveyfor caps & cowls

05 · Caps & Cowls

Chimney Caps & Cowls in Harrogate

Open flues let in rain, birds and leaves. We fit ventilated caps to chimneys you no longer use and cowls or guards to those you do, so the stack stays dry and the flue stays clear.

Lots of Harrogate houses have more flues than fireplaces in use. Those that were boarded up inside are often still open at the top, so rainwater runs down them and birds move in.

A vented cap stops the water and nesting while letting air move through the flue – which matters, because a completely sealed chimney can suffer from condensation.

  • Disused flues capped
  • Airflow maintained
  • Bird guards fitted
  • Fixed securely
  • In keeping with the house
  • Photos of the work
Quote for caps & cowls
Stone chimney on a slate roof
Free surveyfor stone chimney repairs

06 · Stone Chimney Repairs

Stone Chimney Repairs in Harrogate

Much of Victorian Harrogate was built from local sandstone and gritstone, and its stone chimneys need careful, traditional repair. We use breathable lime mortar and matching materials to keep them sound and in character.

Stone stacks that were patched or repointed in hard cement often start to decay, because moisture gets trapped behind the stone and the face begins to flake away.

We carefully remove damaging cement where needed, repoint in lime, re-set loose or displaced stones and keep the original detailing – an important part of the town’s conservation areas.

  • Lime mortar
  • Stone matched
  • Original detail kept
  • Conservation-aware
  • Loose stones secured
  • Before & after photos
Scaffolding set up around a chimney stack
Free surveyfor unsafe & storm-damaged chimneys

07 · Unsafe & Storm-Damaged Chimneys

Unsafe & Storm-Damaged Chimneys in Harrogate

After high winds, a cracked, leaning or partly collapsed chimney is a real hazard. We make it safe as quickly as we can and then put it right with a proper, permanent repair.

Tall stacks catch the wind, and years of weathering can leave them weaker than they look. Falling pots, bricks or stones can damage the roof below and put people at risk.

We secure or take down loose material, protect the roof from the weather and then quote for the permanent repair. If you’re claiming on insurance, we can supply photos and a written quote.

  • Prompt response
  • Loose material made safe
  • Roof kept watertight
  • Permanent repair quoted
  • Photos for insurers
  • Debris cleared away
Quote for unsafe chimneys
Brick chimney stacks on a tiled roof
Free quotefor chimney inspections

08 · Chimney Inspections

Chimney Inspections in Harrogate

Can’t tell what’s wrong from the ground, or buying a period house in Harrogate? We check the chimney close up and show you what we find before any work is quoted.

Big stacks are hard to judge from the street. We look at the pointing, lead, flaunching, pots and any caps or cowls, and check for cracks, movement and signs of water getting in.

You get photos and an honest view of what needs doing now and what can safely wait. If the chimney is in good shape, we’ll say so.

  • Full stack checked
  • Photos of any issues
  • Straight advice
  • Handy before buying
  • Clear written quote
  • No hard sell
Quote for chimney inspections

Recent work

Recent Chimney Repairs

A few recent jobs – stacks repointed, flashings renewed, pots and flaunching put right.

Chimney pots with scaffold access
Chimney pots with scaffold access
Stone chimney stack
Stone chimney stack
Roofer repairing a chimney
Roofer repairing a chimney
Brick chimneys and lead flashing
Brick chimneys and lead flashing
Scaffold around a chimney stack
Scaffold around a chimney stack

Areas we cover

Chimney Repairs Across Harrogate & Surrounding Villages

We repair chimneys throughout HG1, HG2 and HG3 – from the Victorian villas around the Stray and the Duchy to the terraces of Bilton and Starbeck and the villages out towards Nidderdale, including:

  • Roofers Harrogate
  • The Duchy
  • Low Harrogate
  • High Harrogate
  • Bilton
  • Jennyfields
  • Starbeck
  • New Park
  • Harlow Hill
  • Pannal Ash
  • Oatlands
  • Hookstone
  • Woodlands
  • Killinghall
  • Pannal
  • Burn Bridge
  • Beckwithshaw
  • Hampsthwaite
  • Birstwith
  • Ripley
  • Follifoot
  • Spofforth
  • Kirkby Overblow
  • Knaresborough
  • Darley
  • Summerbridge

We also cover Ripon, Wetherby, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge, Otley, York and the rest of North Yorkshire.

Questions

Chimney Repairs in Harrogate – common questions

Can’t see your question here? Give us a ring on 07482 333 160 – we’re happy to talk it through.

How much do chimney repairs cost in Harrogate?

Prices vary with the size and height of the stack, the repair needed and whether scaffolding is required. We inspect first, then give you a clear fixed price in writing – there’s no charge for the quote.

What causes damp around a chimney breast?

In most cases rain is getting into the stack from above – through worn pointing, failed lead, cracked flaunching or an uncapped flue. Condensation in a sealed-up flue can also cause it. We find the cause before suggesting a fix.

Can you repair large Victorian chimney stacks?

Yes. Many Harrogate homes have tall multi-flue stacks in sandstone or brick. We arrange safe access, repair them with suitable materials and keep the original look.

Will I need scaffolding?

Taller stacks and bigger repairs usually need scaffolding for safe access. Smaller jobs on lower chimneys can sometimes be done from the roof. Any scaffold needed is included in the quote.

My house is in a Harrogate conservation area – can you still help?

Yes. We repair like for like, keep pots and details in character and will tell you if anything ought to be checked with North Yorkshire Council before work starts.

Is it worth capping a chimney I no longer use?

Usually, yes. A vented cap keeps rain and birds out of an unused flue while still letting it breathe, which helps prevent damp on the chimney breast.

Is your work insured and guaranteed?

Yes – we’re fully insured and our workmanship is guaranteed. We’ll go through what’s covered when we quote.

Can I just send you a photo first?

Of course. A photo of the stack taken from the street or an upstairs window, sent on WhatsApp with your postcode, is often enough for us to give an early view.

Do I need a new damp proof course for a damp chimney breast?

Rarely. Chimney damp usually comes from water entering the stack higher up, so the repair needs to happen on the roof. Once that’s done, the wall can dry out.

Why does my chimney only leak in heavy rain?

Driving rain finds weak points such as worn joints, loose lead or cracked flaunching that lighter showers don’t reach. It’s a sign the stack needs attention.

How often does a chimney need repointing?

It depends on exposure and the original mortar, but many stacks need attention long before the rest of the house. Recessed joints and mortar on the roof are the signs to look for.

Should my stone chimney be repointed in lime?

Usually, yes. Lime lets traditional sandstone and soft brick breathe, whereas hard cement can trap moisture and damage the face.

Can you just reseal my chimney flashing?

If the lead is sound and has only come out of its joint, it can sometimes be re-wedged and pointed. Split or thin lead is better replaced.

Do you use lead or a substitute?

We normally fit traditional lead around chimneys. If a lead alternative suits your property better, we’ll explain why.

What does flaunching do?

It’s the sloping mortar cap on top of the chimney. It holds the pots firmly and throws rainwater off the stack.

Can you find pots to match my others?

We source matching or close alternatives wherever we can, which helps keep period Harrogate homes looking right.

Will a chimney cap cause damp?

Not if it’s a vented cap. It lets the flue breathe, and we’ll also advise on venting the blocked fireplace below.

How do I stop birds nesting in my chimney?

A bird guard or cowl fitted to the pot stops them getting in, without blocking the flue.

Why is the stone on my chimney flaking?

Often because earlier repairs used hard cement, which traps moisture behind the stone. Repointing in lime allows it to dry out naturally.

Can you repair chimneys in Harrogate’s conservation areas?

Yes. We keep repairs like for like and will let you know if anything should be checked with North Yorkshire Council.

What should I do if my chimney looks unsafe?

Keep everyone clear of the area underneath and give us a call. We’ll get out to inspect it and make it safe as soon as we can.

Will my insurance pay for storm damage to my chimney?

Many home insurance policies cover storm damage, so it’s worth checking yours. We can provide photos and a written quote for your claim.

When is a chimney inspection worth doing?

If you’ve seen damp near the chimney, mortar on the roof or in the gutters, or you’re buying an older property, an inspection can catch problems while they’re still small.

Do I get to see the problem?

Yes. We photograph anything that needs attention, so you can see it for yourself before deciding on any work.