Chimney Repair’s​ 

Damp around Chimneys. 

If you’re old enough you will have witnessed the transition from Wood to PVC rubber sealed Windows. Whereby old wooden Windows were often draughty modern Windows are usually air tight with Rubber Seals. Although this is generally a good thing it has also created a lot of problems with Condensation, both in Rooms and Roof-spaces,(Its worth keeping this in mind) PVC Windows require Trickle vents to let your house breath. Please Don’t Waste Peoples Time by telling them you have some mystery Water Ingression if you have PVC Windows without Trickle Vents in your Windows or Roofspace Vents in your Roofspace.   

Chimney Breasts & Condensation

Internal Chimney Breasts are notorious for Condensation, which invariably deceives the untrained eye. “Oh no it’s definitely not Condensation”(Which is what most say) As most conflate damp patches on Chimney breasts as water penetration. Generally this type of problem can often be caused by Condensation in the room Due to thermal bridging at the flue, or in the case of a “Cold Roof” (You only need roof ventilation in a cold roof) condensation on the chimney above in the roof space or elsewhere in the roof space so please be careful – First Check for Roof, Chimney or flashing damage? It’s better to prove it’s not condensation first as Roof Repairs can cost more than a vent or two. Unfortunately we don’t fix condensation problems if you require trickle vents on your PVC Windows I would recommend Alan Hall. If you’re quite sure its not Condensation please email me on jgmcontracts@gmail.com explaining clearly what you would like done. Please include photo’s & details etc and I will try and help you out.  

We carry out contracts with major Scaffolding & others with none. We do Rebuilds & Partial Rebuilds we Repoint, Re-Render & Re-Point. We also install and Re-install many kinds of Chimneys Caps. All these repairs cost money so make sure that you intend to use your chimney in the Future or you could be wasting your money. You could for example rebuild repoint or recap your Chimney only to find that the Problem(caused by condensation) still persists. So if you are not using or intending to use the chimney in the future the sensible thing is to remove it and fill and close the Flu’s with granular insulation.  

Some of our Chimney Repair Video’s Click Here.

Many thanks James 

Chimney repairs 

For Chimney repairs we require all relevant information, photo’s etc relating to your problem via email jgmcontracts@gmail.com. Our invoices are emailed as a PDF with our Sort Code and Account number at its footer. Invoices can be paid via online transfer or via any Ulster Bank. Saving you time & money.

Back Gutter Lead Flashing

Chimney Repairs & Coatings

We Supply top Quality Chimney Materials, Mortars, Slurry Coatings, Epoxy Resins, Bonding Agents, Acids etc. to Restore and Protect your Chimney from whatever gets thrown at it while maintaining its appearance and style. If you have concerns about your chimney please send a few pictures and if possible a brief description outlining any Problems with your Chimney to jgmcontracts@gmail.com we will then try our best to help.

Belfast Chimney Repairs Facebook

Chimney Repairs & Coatings

Chimney repairs can often be required when a house is only a few years old.  Because Chimneys are generally the last things to be built they can often become a victim of Project Cost Cutting for example;  Using common site mortar to bed the Chimney Pots and omitting a Protective Pre-Cast Concrete Crown being two classic examples. If your Chimney doesn’t have a concrete Crown one should seriously consider getting one fitted retrospectively.

Diagnosing Chimney Problems Belfast

Please don’t assume that any mould or damp on your chimney is caused by water ingress. If you have a damp/condensation issue connected to your chimney please think it through and don’t go for the first or most popular solution. Since the widespread use of Double glazing we find most moisture/damp problems related to Chimneys are in fact a combination of Condensation, Thermal bridging and lack of ventilation in roof-spaces, rooms and especially spare rooms. If you don’t have breathable membrane on your roof you will need to vent it. The old type felt can cause problems with Condensation and for this reason we don’t use membrane when removing Chimneys (unless the roof has breathable membrane) as this helps vent the Roof Space.  One alternative to removing a problem Chimney Breast may be to Insulate it within the house with Urethane insulation(Kingspan) and dry line it. My advice is – To make sure and get your options checked and evaluated by a Proper Expert with a proper Photographic Survey not just a free Builders estimate which could cause a conflict of interest.

Your Cap/Crown takes more abuse than any roof, so it is Crucial to keep them in good condition. Weak mortar means erosion. Lack of cement exaggerates effects of exposure to hail, freezing driving wind, rain and the baking sun.

                                 Is Broad Band the Death of the Arial                                                                                                                                    A Major liability for any chimney is having a TV Arial attached to it. I do a lot of work in Finaghy & Andersonstown where there is a lot of the old RTE Arial’s which are generally heavier and taller and therefore increase the stress on your chimney. People have no real Idea how much strain this puts on their Chimney but on a few stormy days a year these Arial’s can pull the top few course of a chimney apart even though it may be in relatively good condition. Most people now have Broadband and if this is the case there is no good reason for having an Arial destroying your Chimney. I often get called to jobs in Sicily Park, Locksley Park etc of the Lisburn Road Finaghy to repair Chimney’s that have been damaged or destroyed by an Arial owned by the Next door neighbor on a shared Chimney. Big problem is if I tell the customer what the real cause of the problem I risk starting world War three.        Please Take my advice Especially if you have Broadband) and try to “Lose the Arial” 

Chimney Repair Solutions Generally if the damage isn’t too severe, a repair to the top of the chimney can be made by general brickwork repairs and the application of a new Crown’ Cap from a Cement based Professional Slurry Coating. This protects the chimney and acts like a umbrella by shedding rain water from the top of the chimney stopping water penetration through the chimney crown. Secondary water entry, through the facing brick of the chimney, can be stopped by re pointing the chimney’s facing brick.     

Belfast Building & Roofing

Extreme Temps from Icy Gales to Baking Sun

Chimney Repairs invariably include the Cap or Crown. It is generally more exposed above the ridge line to the full range of Extreme Weathers . You normally cannot see your Chimney Crown, but is the most important part of your chimney which protects everything below it.

Chimney Crown, Cap

Your Chimney Crown/Cap is the most exposed part of your home and it protects your chimney and home from water infiltration. It must take the full force and fury of the elements which is why many chimney Crowns, Caps generally crack within the first couple of years of service. Improper maintenance of the chimney crown allows serious damage to chimneys every year. Because your chimney crown is hard to see. You should not neglect its’ maintenance. For it can ultimately cost you thousands in unnecessary repair bills.

What problems can they cause?

A Cracked Chimney Crown allows water into the chimney body. Over time the crack widens. This allows more and more water to enter the chimney. Eventually the water freezes and expands and damages the fabric of the Chimney. Eventually the retained water will become more than what is evaporating. This causes serious degradation. First with discoloration of the top brick courses. It causes spalling, chipping and flaking of the bricks. Eventually moss and dark mold appears on the top of the chimney too. Plants and even trees then begin to grow.

Chimney Repair solutions include.

Chimney Diagnostics & Solutions

Chimney Recapping & Repairs

Chimney Demolition / Removal

Chimney pointing & Repointing

Chimney Pot Replacement & Repair

Chimney Structural repairs

Chimney Pot Replacement & Repair

Chimney Flashing Renewal & Repair

Chimney brickwork restoration & repair.

Damp areas on chimney breasts may signify ventilation problems or worse

if you identify a problem get it checked sooner rather than later by ringing

me on 07401088868 – You can also email photos etc to info@jgm-ni.com

We also repair Concrete Window Sills

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