01Worn mortar
Open joints soak up rain and carry it into the stack.

Chimney Repairs Harrogate · Elite Roofing & Building
A damp patch that keeps coming back, mortar in the gutter or a chimney pot that doesn’t look straight any more? We repair chimney stacks of every age across Harrogate – from tall Victorian stone stacks to brick chimneys on post-war semis – and show you the problem before we quote.
Free, no-obligation quote
Step 1 of 3
Local chimney specialists
Harrogate’s Victorian and Edwardian houses were built with big, tall chimney stacks – often several flues wide and fully exposed to the weather blowing across the Stray. After a century or more, the mortar, lead and flaunching all wear out. Elite Roofing & Building gets up close to the stack, works out exactly where the water or movement is coming from and repairs it with materials that suit the house, from lime mortar on sandstone to new lead on a brick stack.
Book a free surveyServices
Pick the problem that matches yours – or WhatsApp us a photo of the stack and we’ll point you in the right direction.
01Chimney Leaks & DampWe trace where water is entering the stack and stop it at the source.View service
02Chimney RepointingFailed joints raked out and repointed in lime or cement to suit the stack.View service
03Chimney Lead FlashingAprons, steps and back gutters renewed to seal the stack to the roof.View service
04Flaunching & PotsTops of stacks re-formed and loose or broken pots made secure.View service
05Caps & CowlsVented caps, bird guards and cowls to keep flues dry and clear.View service
06Stone Chimney RepairsSandstone and gritstone stacks repaired the traditional way with lime.View service
07Unsafe & Storm-Damaged ChimneysDamaged or unstable stacks made safe first, then repaired properly.View service
08Chimney InspectionsA close-up check of the whole stack, with photos and straight advice.View service

Early warning signs
Chimney problems tend to show up slowly. If you spot any of these, it’s worth getting the stack looked at before the damage spreads:
Brown staining, bubbling paint or wallpaper lifting near the fireplace or in the loft.
Mortar recessed well back from the face, or bits of it on the roof slope below.
Flashing that has lifted, split or come out of the joint around the stack.
Pots that lean, rock in the wind or sit in cracked flaunching.
Twigs, soot or rainwater falling into a fireplace that’s no longer used.
A chimney that bows, leans or has open cracks – get it checked promptly.
Not sure what you’re looking at?
01 · Chimney Leaks & Damp
If there’s a damp patch on the chimney breast that never quite dries out, the cause is almost always up on the roof. We track down where water is getting into the stack and repair it properly, so the wall inside can finally dry.
A chimney can let water in at the top, down the sides or through the masonry itself. Without checking it up close, it’s easy to fix the wrong thing and still have damp next winter.
We look at the stack from the roof and the inside wall, photograph anything we find and recommend the repair that deals with the actual cause – with a fixed price before any work starts.
Where Chimney Leaks Start
01Open joints soak up rain and carry it into the stack.
02Split or lifted flashing lets water in at the roof line.
03Rain gets behind the pots and down into the brickwork.
04Unused chimneys collect rain straight down the flue.

02 · Chimney Repointing
Chimneys catch the weather on every side, so their mortar wears out far quicker than the walls below. We rake out the tired joints and repoint the stack to keep the rain out and the masonry solid.
Once the mortar has weathered back, water sits in the joints and freezes in winter, slowly working the bricks or stones loose. Left long enough, it can lead to damp inside and a stack that needs rebuilding.
We remove the failed mortar to a proper depth and repoint with a mix that suits your chimney – lime for sandstone and older brick, and a colour-matched finish so the work blends in with the rest of the house.
Our Repointing Work
01Every face of the chimney raked out and repointed.
02The most exposed sides repointed where the rest is sound.
03Breathable mortar for sandstone and older brick.
03 · Chimney Lead Flashing
Where the chimney meets the roof is where most leaks begin. We replace tired, split or poorly fitted lead with new flashings cut and dressed to fit your stack properly.
Every chimney needs a front apron, stepped flashings down each side and a back gutter behind. Old lead becomes brittle, mortar holding it in the joint falls out and previous repairs with mastic or tape rarely last.
We take out the failed lead, fit new flashings in the right weight, wedge and point them into the masonry and dress them neatly over the slates or tiles.
Flashing Work We Do
01Side flashings cut and stepped into the joints.
02Front aprons renewed and dressed over the roof covering.
03Rear gutters formed so water runs around the stack.

04 · Flaunching & Pots
The flaunching on top of your stack holds the pots in place and sheds rain away. Once it cracks, water gets in and the pots start to loosen. We rebuild it and make the pots safe.
Big Harrogate stacks often carry a row of pots, and the flaunching around them takes a battering from frost and wind. Hairline cracks soon open up, letting water into the top courses of the chimney.
We remove the old flaunching, re-bed or replace the pots and form new flaunching with a good fall so rain runs straight off.
Top-of-Stack Work
01Cracked flaunching removed and re-formed with a proper fall.
02Rocking pots lifted off and bedded back securely.
03Broken pots swapped for matching or similar designs.
05 · Caps & Cowls
Open flues let in rain, birds and leaves. We fit ventilated caps to chimneys you no longer use and cowls or guards to those you do, so the stack stays dry and the flue stays clear.
Lots of Harrogate houses have more flues than fireplaces in use. Those that were boarded up inside are often still open at the top, so rainwater runs down them and birds move in.
A vented cap stops the water and nesting while letting air move through the flue – which matters, because a completely sealed chimney can suffer from condensation.
What We Fit
01Keep rain out of disused flues while keeping airflow.
02Mesh guards that stop nesting at the top of the flue.
03Rain and wind protection for working fires and stoves.

06 · Stone Chimney Repairs
Much of Victorian Harrogate was built from local sandstone and gritstone, and its stone chimneys need careful, traditional repair. We use breathable lime mortar and matching materials to keep them sound and in character.
Stone stacks that were patched or repointed in hard cement often start to decay, because moisture gets trapped behind the stone and the face begins to flake away.
We carefully remove damaging cement where needed, repoint in lime, re-set loose or displaced stones and keep the original detailing – an important part of the town’s conservation areas.
Stone Stack Work
01Soft, breathable joints that protect the stone.
02Loose stones lifted, re-bedded and secured.
03Hard cement removed where it’s harming the stone.
07 · Unsafe & Storm-Damaged Chimneys
After high winds, a cracked, leaning or partly collapsed chimney is a real hazard. We make it safe as quickly as we can and then put it right with a proper, permanent repair.
Tall stacks catch the wind, and years of weathering can leave them weaker than they look. Falling pots, bricks or stones can damage the roof below and put people at risk.
We secure or take down loose material, protect the roof from the weather and then quote for the permanent repair. If you’re claiming on insurance, we can supply photos and a written quote.
Dealing With Damaged Chimneys
01Loose pots, bricks and stones secured or removed.
02Roof and stack protected from further rain.
03Stack repaired or rebuilt and properly secured.
04Photos and a written quote for your insurer.

08 · Chimney Inspections
Can’t tell what’s wrong from the ground, or buying a period house in Harrogate? We check the chimney close up and show you what we find before any work is quoted.
Big stacks are hard to judge from the street. We look at the pointing, lead, flaunching, pots and any caps or cowls, and check for cracks, movement and signs of water getting in.
You get photos and an honest view of what needs doing now and what can safely wait. If the chimney is in good shape, we’ll say so.
What We Look At
01Bricks, stones and mortar checked for wear and cracking.
02Flashings checked where the stack meets the roof.
03Flaunching, pots, caps and cowls all checked.
04Pictures of what we find and clear next steps.
Recent work
A few recent jobs – stacks repointed, flashings renewed, pots and flaunching put right.





Areas we cover
We repair chimneys throughout HG1, HG2 and HG3 – from the Victorian villas around the Stray and the Duchy to the terraces of Bilton and Starbeck and the villages out towards Nidderdale, including:
We also cover Ripon, Wetherby, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge, Otley, York and the rest of North Yorkshire.
Questions
Can’t see your question here? Give us a ring on 07482 333 160 – we’re happy to talk it through.
Prices vary with the size and height of the stack, the repair needed and whether scaffolding is required. We inspect first, then give you a clear fixed price in writing – there’s no charge for the quote.
In most cases rain is getting into the stack from above – through worn pointing, failed lead, cracked flaunching or an uncapped flue. Condensation in a sealed-up flue can also cause it. We find the cause before suggesting a fix.
Yes. Many Harrogate homes have tall multi-flue stacks in sandstone or brick. We arrange safe access, repair them with suitable materials and keep the original look.
Taller stacks and bigger repairs usually need scaffolding for safe access. Smaller jobs on lower chimneys can sometimes be done from the roof. Any scaffold needed is included in the quote.
Yes. We repair like for like, keep pots and details in character and will tell you if anything ought to be checked with North Yorkshire Council before work starts.
Usually, yes. A vented cap keeps rain and birds out of an unused flue while still letting it breathe, which helps prevent damp on the chimney breast.
Yes – we’re fully insured and our workmanship is guaranteed. We’ll go through what’s covered when we quote.
Of course. A photo of the stack taken from the street or an upstairs window, sent on WhatsApp with your postcode, is often enough for us to give an early view.
Rarely. Chimney damp usually comes from water entering the stack higher up, so the repair needs to happen on the roof. Once that’s done, the wall can dry out.
Driving rain finds weak points such as worn joints, loose lead or cracked flaunching that lighter showers don’t reach. It’s a sign the stack needs attention.
It depends on exposure and the original mortar, but many stacks need attention long before the rest of the house. Recessed joints and mortar on the roof are the signs to look for.
Usually, yes. Lime lets traditional sandstone and soft brick breathe, whereas hard cement can trap moisture and damage the face.
If the lead is sound and has only come out of its joint, it can sometimes be re-wedged and pointed. Split or thin lead is better replaced.
We normally fit traditional lead around chimneys. If a lead alternative suits your property better, we’ll explain why.
It’s the sloping mortar cap on top of the chimney. It holds the pots firmly and throws rainwater off the stack.
We source matching or close alternatives wherever we can, which helps keep period Harrogate homes looking right.
Not if it’s a vented cap. It lets the flue breathe, and we’ll also advise on venting the blocked fireplace below.
A bird guard or cowl fitted to the pot stops them getting in, without blocking the flue.
Often because earlier repairs used hard cement, which traps moisture behind the stone. Repointing in lime allows it to dry out naturally.
Yes. We keep repairs like for like and will let you know if anything should be checked with North Yorkshire Council.
Keep everyone clear of the area underneath and give us a call. We’ll get out to inspect it and make it safe as soon as we can.
Many home insurance policies cover storm damage, so it’s worth checking yours. We can provide photos and a written quote for your claim.
If you’ve seen damp near the chimney, mortar on the roof or in the gutters, or you’re buying an older property, an inspection can catch problems while they’re still small.
Yes. We photograph anything that needs attention, so you can see it for yourself before deciding on any work.