Chimney Repairs Birmingham
If you've spotted crumbling mortar, loose bricks or a wobbly-looking stack on your roof, it's tempting to put it off. Chimneys are hard to inspect from the ground, and choosing a roofer to go up there can feel like a bit of a gamble, especially with all the horror stories about cowboy builders. That's exactly why Midlands Roofing exists. We're a family-run team offering chimney repairs in Birmingham, from small repointing jobs to full stack rebuilds, and we tell you straight what's actually needed, not what sounds most profitable. Birmingham has a lot of tall Victorian and Edwardian chimney stacks, particularly in areas like Harborne, Edgbaston and Moseley, and after a century or more of exposure to the weather, most of them need attention sooner or later.
18 years
Trading in Birmingham
15
Experienced roofers
Up to
20 years
Workmanship warranty
Fully insured
What our chimney repairs service includes
Our chimney repair work covers the stack itself, the brick or stone structure that sits above your roofline, rather than the lead flashing around its base (that's covered in detail on our leadwork page, and we're happy to look at both if you need it). Specifically, we handle:
- Repointing
- raking out old, crumbling mortar and replacing it with new, so the brickwork stays weatherproof and structurally sound
- Brick replacement
- swapping out cracked or "spalling" bricks (where the face of the brick has flaked off due to trapped moisture and frost damage) for matching replacements
- Stack rebuilds
- taking down and rebuilding a chimney from the roofline up when the structure is too far gone for repair alone
- Pot and cowl repairs
- replacing cracked or missing chimney pots, and fitting cowls or caps to keep rain and birds out of flues that are no longer in regular use
- Chimney removal
- safely taking down a stack that's no longer needed and capping it off below the roofline, tidying up the roof covering in the process
If your chimney is still connected to a working fire or flue, we'd always recommend a separate qualified engineer checks the flue and appliance itself. That's a different specialism to roofing and structural chimney work, and it's worth getting both jobs done properly.
Signs you need chimney repairs
Some chimney problems are obvious, others creep up on you. Look out for:
- Crumbling or missing mortar joints between the bricks, sometimes visible as a fine sandy residue in the loft or on the roof
- Cracked, flaking or spalling bricks, especially on the side of the stack that takes the worst of the weather
- A leaning or visibly uneven stack, which can point to movement in the structure
- Damp patches on chimney breasts inside the house, particularly after heavy rain
- Damaged, cracked or missing chimney pots, or a cowl that's come loose
- Debris in the fireplace or hearth, such as bits of brick or mortar, which usually means something above is breaking down
Older properties around Harborne, Edgbaston, Moseley and similar areas tend to have taller, more exposed stacks built with lime mortar that softens over time, so it's worth getting these checked periodically rather than waiting for a problem to show up inside the house.
Our process
Free inspection and quote.
We'll take a proper look, usually from a ladder or with a drone/binoculars where access is tricky, and give you an honest assessment. No pressure, no jargon, just a clear picture of what's going on and what it'll cost.
Agreeing the work.
If repointing will do the job, we won't push you towards a full rebuild. We'd rather tell you the smaller job is enough than talk you into something you don't need.
Carrying out the repair.
Our own team of 15 roofers does the work, no subcontractors, using appropriate access equipment and working to current industry and safety standards given the height involved.
Finishing and tidy-up.
We match mortar and brickwork as closely as possible, check the pots and cowls are secure, and leave the site clean.
Warranty.
Chimney repair work carries our workmanship warranty of up to 20 years, depending on the type and scope of work carried out.
Why choose Midlands Roofing for chimney repairs in Birmingham
We've been trading in Birmingham and the West Midlands for 18 years, and as a family business, our name and our reputation are on the line with every job, which is exactly why we take the "turn up when you say you will" approach seriously. Chimney work involves height and structural safety, so it's not somewhere to cut corners, and it's not somewhere we cut corners either.
We're fully insured, and every job is carried out by our own experienced roofers rather than passed on to subcontractors we don't know well. If a chimney only needs repointing rather than a full rebuild, we'll say so, even if that means a smaller job for us. That's the "quality" and "respect" part of how we work: doing the job properly, and treating every customer the way we'd want to be treated ourselves. And because we're local, we understand the kind of Victorian and Edwardian stacks common across Birmingham and can usually get a straightforward job scheduled quickly.
What affects the cost
We won't quote a fixed price without seeing the chimney, because a few things make a real difference:
- How much brickwork needs replacing.
- A small area of repointing costs a lot less than replacing multiple courses of brick.
- Access.
- A chimney on a steep roof or a taller Victorian stack needs more scaffolding or access equipment than a low, easy-to-reach one.
- Whether a rebuild is needed.
- Taking a stack down and rebuilding it from the roofline up is a bigger job than repairing what's there.
- Pots and cowls.
- Matching an old or unusual pot style can sometimes cost more than a standard replacement.
- Condition of the surrounding roof.
- If tiles or flashing near the chimney also need attention, it makes sense to address it at the same time.
The best way to get an accurate figure is a free, no-obligation quote. We'll give you a clear breakdown, so you know exactly what you're paying for.
Areas We Cover
As well as chimney repairs across Birmingham, we cover the wider West Midlands, including Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, West Bromwich, Walsall, Dudley, Wolverhampton, Halesowen, Stourbridge and Wednesbury. Wherever you are in the area, our team can usually get to you quickly, with same-day emergency callouts available when you need us most.
Related roofing services
FAQs
It usually comes down to how much of the brickwork is affected and how sound the structure is underneath. If the mortar is failing but the bricks themselves are solid and the stack is standing straight, repointing is often enough. If there's significant cracking, leaning, or multiple courses of damaged brick, a rebuild from the roofline up may be the safer long-term option. We'll tell you honestly which applies during our inspection.
It depends on the extent of the damage, but a stack with loose bricks or serious mortar loss can shed debris in high winds, and in more advanced cases the structure can become unstable. It's not something to panic about, but it's worth getting checked reasonably promptly rather than left indefinitely.
It depends where the leak is coming from. If it's the lead flashing where the chimney meets the roof, that's covered in detail by our separate leadwork service. If it's coming from the brickwork of the stack itself, such as porous or spalling brick, that's chimney repair work and we can sort it as part of this service.
Yes. If a stack is no longer needed, we can take it down safely to below the roofline and properly cap and finish the roof covering underneath, so there's no chance of leaks where it used to be.
Yes, we can carry out repairs to the stack itself. If the fireplace or flue is in active use, we'd recommend a separate qualified engineer checks the flue and appliance, since that's a different area of expertise to structural roofing and chimney brickwork.
A repointing job can often be done in a day, depending on access and weather. A full rebuild takes longer, usually a few days, since it involves taking the stack down safely and rebuilding it properly. We'll give you a realistic timeframe as part of your quote.
Got a chimney that needs a proper look? Call us now on 07735 424741 or get in touch for a free quote, and we'll give you an honest answer on what it actually needs.
9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Same day response when your roof needs urgent attention.