Chimney Repairs South Wales › Bridgend › Guide
A woodburner in an old chimney is a popular idea, and many Bridgend houses have the right breast for it. Whether it works depends on the condition of the flue and the stack above it. We deal with the stack. The stove and flue liner are a job for a suitably qualified installer.
Start with the state of the stack
An old stack that has been left alone for decades may have loose pots, crumbling mortar and a weak cap. A stove sends hotter, drier gases up the flue than an open fire, so any weakness shows up quickly. We check what we can from the ground and loft, then take a proper look at the top. Older Bridgend terraces often have deep, generous breasts that suit a stove well, provided the stack above has been looked after.
What we repair or rebuild
Before a stove goes in, the stack should be weathertight and the top secure. Where the brickwork has gone, rebuilding is safer than patching. We do not certify appliances. We repair and rebuild the stack so your installer has something sound to work with. Cement that has washed out around the pots lets rain in, and a new stove will not cure that.
- Rebuilding cracked or leaning stack brickwork
- Renewing the flaunching that holds the pots
- Fitting a suitable pot or cowl for the flue
- Making good the roof around the stack
The flue itself
Most old flues are wide and uneven inside, and often need a liner. That, along with the stove, the hearth and the ventilation, is for your qualified installer to specify and fit. If a flue has had a fault, such as smoke coming back into the room, do not light it again until it has been checked. We never tell anyone a flue is fit for use. That judgement belongs with the installer who fits and signs off the appliance.
Rules and paperwork
Installing a stove involves Building Regulations, and some properties have extra planning rules. Your installer should know what applies. If the stack work needs changes to the structure, we tell you before we start, and we advise on any checks that may be needed. Rules differ from house to house, so it pays to ask before you buy a stove rather than afterwards.
Working with your installer
The best order is usually stack first, then liner and stove. We are happy to speak to your installer about access and timing so the scaffold is used well and the roof is left tidy. Doing it in the right order also saves money on scaffold, since the roof side is finished before the interior work begins.
Need a chimney looked at in Bridgend? See chimney repairs in Bridgend, or for the lead and mortar side of it, chimney flashing repairs and chimney repointing and repairs.
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Common Questions
Do you install the stove?
No. We repair and rebuild the chimney stack. The stove and flue liner should be fitted by a suitably qualified installer, who also deals with the appliance side and the regulations that go with it. That keeps the stack repair and the appliance work properly separate.
Does the chimney need rebuilding before a stove goes in?
Not always, but an old stack often needs work. If the brickwork is loose, cracked or leaning, rebuilding is the safer route. We inspect it and tell you plainly what is needed. Ask us anything you are unsure of.
Can I use the fireplace to test it first?
We would not advise it. If you are unsure of the condition of the flue or stack, do not light it. Have it checked first, and call us for a look at the stack.
Get a Chimney Looked At in Bridgend
Tell us what the roof is doing in Bridgend and we will look at it. Call 07766 547309, message us on WhatsApp or use the form below.