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Roofing

Chimney repair and repointing

Repointing, flaunching, cowls and flashing around a chimney stack.
Post a task Chimney repair and repointing by county

Whether this needs a licence in Ireland

Ireland

No licence required

Taken from the statute below; not yet reviewed by a lawyer

Irelandwww.cru.ieChecked

Chimney repair and repointing: what the job involves

Repairing the chimney stack above the roof: repointing or rebuilding loose brickwork and render, re-flaunching the pots, replacing lead flashing, and fitting cowls or capping a chimney no longer used. A chimney is the most exposed part of an Irish roof and a common source of leaks.

Also asked for as: chimney repointing · chimney flashing · chimney cowl · cap chimney · chimney pot

How the job is usually done

  1. Inspect the stack from the ground, the attic and, with safe access, the roof: pointing, render, pots, flaunching and flashing.
  2. Set up scaffolding or a cherry picker; chimney work from a ladder is not safe.
  3. Rake out and repoint, or take down and rebuild loose courses; repair or replace render.
  4. Re-bed the pots and renew the flaunching, or cap pots that are no longer in use while leaving ventilation.
  5. Replace the lead flashing and back gutter where the stack meets the roof, chased into the brickwork.
  6. Fit cowls or bird guards where wanted, matched to the appliance using the flue.
  7. Clear debris from the roof, gutters and fireplace, and show photographs.

Chimney repair and repointing: what is included

Usually included

  • Repointing and minor brickwork or render repairs
  • New flaunching and re-bedding of pots
  • Lead flashing at the junction with the roof
  • Clearing debris from gutters and the hearth

Usually not included — agree it separately

  • Sweeping the chimney, which is a separate trade
  • Lining the flue, or any work on a stove or boiler flue
  • Taking down and rebuilding the whole stack, unless agreed
  • Inside making good of damp staining on chimney breasts

Materials and who supplies them

  • Brick or block to match, lime or cement mortar to suit the age of the stack
  • Code 4 or 5 lead for flashings and a back gutter
  • Chimney pots, caps, cowls or bird guards
  • Scaffolding or a cherry picker — arranged by the contractor

How long it takes

Usually a day or two of work, plus the scaffold time; rebuilding the stack or a wet spell for lime mortar to cure adds days.

When to book

Late spring to early autumn, ideally before the heating season so fires and stoves are not out of use in the cold.

Chimney repair and repointing: the rules in Ireland

What the official sources say, checked against them on the date shown. A summary, not legal advice — follow the link to read the rule itself.

  • Roof work must be planned so nobody can fall from the edge or through the roof: scaffolding or edge protection, roof ladders, and covers or nets over fragile sheets and roof lights. The HSA code of practice sets out what that means in practice.

    Applies to: the roofer, as employer or self-employed contractor

    Health and Safety Authority — Code of Practice for Safety in Roofwork; Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, Part 4 (work at height) · hsa.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

  • A chimney stack on a party wall is a party structure. Work to it needs the adjoining owner’s consent or, failing that, a court works order; the owner doing the work must make good any damage to next door.

    Applies to: the homeowner

    Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009, sections 43 to 47 · irishstatutebook.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

  • Capping or changing a flue that serves a stove, open fire or boiler affects how it draws and vents. The building regulations’ guidance on heat-producing appliances sets out what a flue terminal needs, so tell the roofer what uses each flue.

    Applies to: the roofer and the homeowner

    Building Regulations Part J — Technical Guidance Document J (heat producing appliances) · gov.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

What chimney repair and repointing costs, and why

What jobs on Talqero came to

Not enough comparable jobs yet to publish a range here. Talqero shows a price range only once at least five comparable jobs, agreed prices or offers exist — a range from fewer would describe a handful of jobs, not the market. Post your job and compare the offers you get.

What affects the price

  • Access: scaffolding to reach the stack, especially on a two-storey house or a shared stack
  • Repointing compared with rebuilding part or all of the stack
  • Lead flashing and back gutter replacement
  • Number of pots, caps and cowls
  • A shared stack on a semi-detached house, which needs the neighbour’s agreement
  • VAT: building work on a home is charged at the reduced 13.5% rate by a VAT-registered roofer, unless materials are more than two-thirds of the price (Revenue’s two-thirds rule)
  • VAT: building work on a home is charged at the reduced rate of 13.5% by a VAT-registered business — unless the materials come to more than two-thirds of the price, when Revenue’s two-thirds rule applies the goods rate to the whole job. Ask whether a quote includes VAT.

Paperwork to ask for at the end

  • Before-and-after photographs of the stack and flashing
  • A written note of which pots were capped and which flues are live
  • The written workmanship guarantee

Safety

  • Do not light a fire or stove in a flue that has just been capped or had a cowl fitted until it is confirmed it is safe to use.
  • A leaning stack, or bricks or pot pieces on the ground, is dangerous after a storm — keep people away below it.
  • Keep a working carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fuel-burning appliance.

Chimney repair and repointing: before you hire

Questions to ask a tradesperson

  • Do you repoint with lime or cement, and why for my chimney?
  • Is the scaffolding in the price?
  • Will capped flues be ventilated to stop damp?
  • Is VAT included?

What you can do yourself

Nothing on the stack itself; fitting a balloon or closing a fireplace you no longer use is a safe step inside if the flue serves nothing else.

What to put in your task

  • What is wrong with the chimney?
  • How many chimney stacks need work?
  • Is the stack shared with next door?
  • Is any fire, stove or boiler still using the chimney?
  • How high is the house?

Photos that help

  • The chimney stack from the street, zoomed in as far as possible
  • Where the stack meets the roof (the flashing)
  • Any damp patch on the chimney breast inside or in the attic

Chimney repair and repointing by county

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Questions about chimney repair and repointing

Does chimney repair and repointing need a licence in Ireland?

No licence is required for this work in Ireland (source: www.cru.ie). Ask instead for references and photographs of similar jobs.

Why is my chimney breast damp inside?

Rain getting in through failed flashing, porous pointing or an uncapped pot is the usual cause. Older chimneys can also carry salts from years of fires that draw moisture from the air. A roofer looks at the outside first; inside stains may need a salt-resistant plaster after the leak is fixed.

Should I cap an old chimney?

If nothing uses it, capping stops rain and birds, but the flue should stay ventilated at the top and at the bottom inside, or it will get damp. Never cap a flue that serves a working fire, stove or boiler.

Who pays for a shared chimney?

Usually the owners on both sides share the cost of work to a shared stack, by agreement. If a neighbour will not agree, Irish law lets the owner apply to court for permission to carry out necessary works to a party structure.

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