Chimney Flaunching Preston: Cracked Flaunching Renewed
Signs your flaunching has failed
- Cracks in the mortar around the base of the pots, sometimes visible from the ground with binoculars.
- Pieces of mortar in the gutter, on the roof or on the ground below the chimney.
- Loose, leaning or rocking chimney pots.
- Plants or moss growing on top of the stack.
- Damp on a chimney breast or ceiling next to the chimney, especially after rain.
Why flaunching fails
Flaunching sits flat-ish on top of the stack, so it takes rain, frost and sun more than any other mortar on the house. Over the years, water gets into small cracks, freezes and opens them up. Once it's cracked, rain soaks into the top of the stack, and the pots lose the mortar holding them.
How we renew chimney flaunching
- Safe access to the top of the stack.
- Break out the old flaunching and check the top courses of brickwork and the pots.
- Reset or replace the pots where needed, so they sit firmly.
- New flaunching, shaped to slope away from the pots so water runs off the stack.
- Check the rest of the chimney while we're up there: the pointing and the lead flashing where the chimney meets the roof.
- Clear up and take away the old mortar.
If the bricks themselves are crumbling or the stack is leaning, flaunching alone won't fix it. See our chimney rebuilds page.
Flaunching or pointing?
Flaunching is the mortar on top of the stack. Pointing is the mortar between the bricks down the sides. Both let water in when they fail, and they often need doing at the same time. See our roof and chimney pointing page, or our main chimney repairs page for everything we do on chimneys.
Unused chimneys
If a fireplace is no longer used, the chimney still needs ventilating to stay dry. Ask us about the right way to cap an unused pot when we renew the flaunching. If the chimney serves a gas fire or boiler, have the appliance checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer after any work that affects the flue.
Frequently asked questions
What is chimney flaunching?
It's the sloped mortar on top of the chimney stack, around the base of the pots. It holds the pots in place and throws rainwater off the stack.
Can cracked flaunching cause a leak?
Yes. Water getting into the top of the stack can show as damp on a chimney breast or a ceiling next to the chimney.
Can you just fill the cracks?
Filling cracks is rarely a lasting fix, because the flaunching around them is usually weak too. Breaking it out and renewing it lasts much longer.
Do I need scaffolding?
Usually, yes, for safe access to the top of the stack. We'll explain what's needed when we quote.
Are your quotes free?
Yes. Call 07742 720 236 for a free quote.
Cracked flaunching in Preston?
Call Danny on 07742 720 236 or request a free quote. We cover Preston, Leyland, Chorley and the surrounding area.