This Chester chimney had a problem that is common and easy to miss from the ground: the flaunching, the sloped mortar cap on top of the stack that holds the pot in place and throws rain off the top, had broken up.
We have two photos from the top of the stack, one before and one after, and between them they tell the story of the repair.
Before: a cap in pieces
In the before shot the old flaunching has split into separate lumps around the base of the round terracotta pot, with open cracks between them and a thick crust of grey and yellow lichen over the whole top. Pieces like that can rock loose, and the gaps let water straight down into the top of the brickwork and around the pot.
The top courses of brick are also heavily coated in lichen, a sign of a stack that stays damp for long spells.
- Flaunching broken into loose sections
- Open cracks around the base of the pot
- Lichen and moss over the cap and top brick courses
After: new flaunching around the pot
The after photo shows the stack with a fresh sand and cement flaunching, smooth and even, sloping down from the pot to the edges of the stack on all four sides. The terracotta pot stands upright in the middle, and the smooth slope gives rain nowhere to sit.
Lower down you can see the tiles around the base of the stack and the grey flashing where the stack meets the roof. Flaunching is one part of a sound chimney; flashings, pointing and the pots themselves all play their part too, and our chimney repairs page covers each of them.
Because chimneys are out of sight, problems like this often only show up as damp on a chimney breast inside or a piece of mortar found in the garden. If you have spotted either, the stack is worth a look alongside any other roof repairs you may need.
Questions About This Kind of Job
What is chimney flaunching?
It is the sloped mortar cap on top of a chimney stack. It holds the pots in position and sheds rainwater off the top of the stack so it does not soak into the brickwork.
How do I know if my flaunching has failed?
Look for cracks or missing chunks when you view the stack from the street or garden, bits of mortar on the roof or in the gutter, or damp on the chimney breast inside.
Does the chimney pot need replacing too?
Not always. If the pot is sound, it can usually be kept and bedded into the new flaunching. Cracked or loose pots can be replaced at the same time.
Can you check my chimney?
Yes. Get in touch and we will arrange to look at the stack.
