How do I know if my chimney needs repairing?

Posted on 29 March 2022

Are you wondering “How do I know if my chimney needs repairing?” Then you’re not alone. Even though chimneys tend to be quite reliable structures, they do sometimes become damaged. Since a damaged chimney can be a serious fire hazard, it’s important to get repairs carried out as quickly as possible. Read on to discover the biggest signs your chimney is in need of repair. 

The biggest signs your chimney needs repairing 

Chimney repairs in Grimsby

Don’t make the mistake of taking your chimney for granted. Whilst it can work efficiently and safely for many years, problems can occur over time, and when they do, they can pose a major fire hazard. This is because any crack in the chimney can leak the heat into the surrounding walls, raising the risk of a house fire. Keep reading to learn the answer to the question “How do I know if my chimney needs repairing?”

Efflorescence or white staining

Have you noticed efflorescence on your chimney? If so, this should ring alarm bells. Whilst removing this white staining isn’t difficult, this doesn’t solve the underlying issue. Efflorescence is a sign that there’s excess moisture in the chimney’s brickwork. The substance is actually salt deposits that remain after the evaporation of excess moisture on the surface of the chimney. Common causes of efflorescence are a crack in the chimney structure, the chimney has not been properly sealed, and the chimney is missing a cap. If you don’t deal with the underlying problem, the chimney is only likely to deteriorate further. Enlist professional chimney repairs in Grimsby or Louth as soon as possible.

Mortar damage between the bricks 

Another clear sign that your chimney needs repairing is mortar damage between the bricks. If you notice that the mortar that is holding the bricks together has cracks or holes in it, you need to get it repaired right away. If you don’t, water can find its way inside, causing further damage and accelerating the deterioration of the whole chimney. This can lead to a bigger repair bill further down the line. Mortar damage can be repaired using ‘tuckpointing’, which involves routing out the damaged mortar and replacing it with new, fresh mortar. At Raven Roofing and Repairs, our experienced roofers can carry out tuckpointing using the latest, most effective methods and materials. 

How do I know if my chimney needs repairing?

Rust

Rust in your firebox or damper is always a bad sign since it usually indicates that there is excess moisture in the chimney. Whilst you might not notice rust on the damper right away, it’s probably present if it’s not sealing well or operating properly. Too much moisture in your chimney can lead to some serious damage occurring, including cracked flue tiles. A chimney repair company can use a special camera to assess the flue lining and ensure the chimney system hasn’t been breached. If it has, there’s the risk of a house fire occurring and the problem needs to be addressed immediately. 

Spalling 

Spalling is what happens when the bricks in the chimney begin to crumble and dislodge. There can be various causes, however, old age and interior mortar are usually to blame. If you find chunks of bricks or even whole bricks have come loose, this indicates that spalling is occurring. Spalling must be fixed as soon as possible to avoid your chimney deteriorating completely. To fix a spalling chimney, we need to remove the damaged bricks and replace them with new bricks and mortar. We can also add a waterproof sealant to ensure that it doesn’t happen again. 

Chimney crown damage

To find any damage to the chimney crown, you’ll need to go onto your roof. The crown is a very important part of the chimney’s overall structure, protecting it during periods of bad weather. Therefore, if it’s cracked, moisture can find its way into the chimney, leading to larger cracks forming. Water can seep between the chimney and flue lining too, which could result in spalling. We recommend weatherproofing the chimney crown to provide it with protection against the elements.

Chimney repairs in Grimsby 

If you require chimney repairs carried out, look no further than Raven Roofing. We are highly experienced roofers in Grimsby and regularly perform repairs to chimneys of all types. We’ve been serving the people of Grimsby, Louth, and the surrounding areas for many years, building a fantastic reputation for ourselves. If you think your chimney needs repairing, don’t delay. 

There should be a huge sense of urgency when it comes to repairing your chimney. Not only can a potentially fatal house fire occur in the worst cases, but smoke containing dangerous gases like carbon monoxide can be emitted into your home, potentially causing serious illness. We recommend having your chimney inspected regularly so that repairs can be carried out at the first opportunity. When problems are missed or ignored, they will only get worse and can also become a lot more expensive to fix. 

Contact us 

“How do I know if my chimney needs repairing?” is a very common question, with most people simply unaware of just what to look for when assessing this part of their home for damage. For chimney repairs in Grimsby or Louth, get in touch with Raven Roofing and Repairs today. Call us on 01472 565 084 or 01507 640 072 to discuss your requirements with one of our team. Alternatively, request a callback via the website. We’ll aim to get back to you as soon as we can. Even if you don’t have any problems with your chimney right now, it’s a good idea to arrange regular inspections so that issues can be identified at the earliest possible stage. 

Customer Reviews
Raven Roofing & Repairs Ltd
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Maggie N
Very good quality work from Raven Roofing done on our guttering and tiles.I appreciated being told exactly what had been done and how.The work was carried out quickly and for a very reasonable price.
alice judge
Great service from Raven Roofing and Repairs, came out to assess, and quickly fitted us in for necessary repairs, would definitely recommend.
Tessa Heelas
Prompt reply to email. Arranged to assess within 1 week. Did the job promptly as arranged. Good price
Shawn Bosworth
Chris and his apprentice were brilliant! Came out in the miserable rain and made my roof water tight again. I had several quotes from other roofers, cowboys trying to milk my desperation for silly money. Chris was honest, fair and reasonably priced. Highly recommended, thanks!
mark appleby
Extremely Happy with Job!Chris, Quickly assessed the roof and gave options on what could be done.Once Date Agreed, delivered on time with a very professional looking job. Job was in Feb and Chris and Team went out of their way to get the job done even though weather was bad at end of week. They left Work area very clean. Highly reccomend them!
Bev Barley
Thanks for doing a first class job would highly recommend Chris for a job well done
Robert Meadows
Mike Downs
Fantastic, would recommend to anyone who needs roof work. Polite, helpful and super fast. Thanks so much.
Lisa McMahon
Had a leak from my roof. Chris came out the same day althoughthe weather wasn't good. He surveyed the roof and found the problem immediately (a tile had slipped), took photo's before and after replacing the slipped tile. I asked how much I owed him - he said there was NO charge as it was a quick repair. What a lovely, kind, genuine guy! Would highly recommended him and his company.
Roland Packer
We recently had the roof on our extension replaced by raven roofing. Chris and his young helper couldn't have been more helpful. Work done to a very high standard. Quote honoured to the penny. Genuinely nice people and a real pleasure to do business with. Will definitely call them for the services they offer, when needed.
Michelle Packer
Can’t recommend this company enough. Did a great job on our roof , very friendly team , punctual, good quality work and good value for money . Many thanks
Carol Howden
Very friendly team and carried out a great job. Arrived and just got on with the job. Looks great
andrew engeham
Competitive price and excellent workmanship.Highly recommended.
Keith Brown
Great company great service
John Hornsby
Came on time very Satisfied with wat was done. Will be using them again if needed
Omer Khalifa
renegade jokerrr
Fantastic service! Nice and friendly guys! Very quick work! Great customer service! If I need any repairs in the future i will use Raven again.
Margaret Dabb
After being let down by another firm i rang Chris in desperation. Within an hour he arrived, looked at work, discussed, priced and booked a date. Arrived on time, everything ran like clockwork even in the awful heat they had to work through. Very well organised, very tidy, would have no hesitation in recommending his work. Many thanks
Zoe Gibbons
Can’t recommend Chris and his team more, they were all friendly, polite and efficient and left my patio tidier than it was before! Nothing was too much trouble and good quality work and price. I’d definitely recommend Raven Roofing to all my friends and family.
Alan Grosschmidt
Would Recommend Raven Roofing.We had new gutters and facias fitted all round the house.We were really pleased with the completed job.I did point out a minor oversight, which Chris promptly dealt with.The quote for the job was very competitive and I doubt you could get it done cheaper.So deserves 5 Stars.
Andrea Goforth
Was very happy with the prompt, professional, and friendly service provided by this company . They were so quick to help me out and repair a badly storm damaged roof. It is such a joy to have a service provider come when they say they will! Reasonable price and good quality workmanship too . Thank you, Raven Roofing .
Mandy
We had the tiles down the gulley re-bedded.Very professional and cleaned up afterwards. Really friendly and very kind guy and we will definitely be using Raven Roofing again in the new year to do our guttering! Thanks Chris 👍🏻
Mike Prior
they repaired a dislodged tile free of charge. Just asked To be remembered for other works and telling my friends
Sally Melton
Had a skylight fitted. Excellent service, fitted my job in even though extremely busy. Was absolutely delighted the attention to detail was perfect. Made sure everything was tidied up and taken away. Thank you again. Would highly recommend.
Ali Wickham
Peter Hogarth
These guys did a great job repointing my roof gulleys
Pamela Blow
Samantha Blow
Excellent service, I would highly recommend :)
Derek Coates
Chris promptly repaired the front guttering which is now ok.
Lee Popham
Rang raven to come and fix my roof after last months storm, came next day and repaired, very happy with service and price, will definitely use again.
Mark Barnard
Very good reliable service all work guaranteed
kevin langley
When we needed urgent roof repairs, Raven Roofing & Repairs came to the rescue. Great quality work undertaken by true professionals.
Steve Nowell
I recently had repairs done to my roof. The response and service were excellent, nothing was too much trouble and the work carried out effectively and efficiently
Kelly Brewer
Excellent service, recently had repairs carried out on my house roof, Chris was really friendly, work carried out to a great standard at a great price 🙂
AerinB
We have used Raven Roofing several times for small repairs as we didn't want to go to the expense of a new roof, but recent torrential rain forced us to accept we needed a new roof. We were dreading the bill but Raven Roofing were very reasonable (not sure if I'm allowed to say how much).The scaffolding arrived and was put up promptly, Raven Roofing arriving a couple of days later to start work, the only delays were due to bad weather and Raven Roofing contacted us to let us know about any delays which we really liked, usually builders don't bother. Raven roofing were polite, friendly and courteous at all times.Out roof was completely stripped and replaced in a week, all rubbish was removed and the gardens left looking tidy.The roof itself looks fantastic...we are very very pleased and highly recommend Raven Roofing.
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