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Many older homes feature a chimney as part of their roof. This, naturally, leads to a fireplace inside the home, if it hasn’t been filled in or bricked up.
While the idea of a roaring fire in the depths of winter sounds great and can be a property selling point, they can also be a draughty nuisance that causes you headaches.
Far above the fireplace, your chimney might be developing all sorts of issues.
At best, it might be an eyesore; at worst, it could be a serious hazard.
But before you choose to tear it down, it’s important to know if that is the best option for your roof.
Let’s start with the positives.
The Benefits of a Chimney Stack
If you have a chimney in your home, it might be more helpful than you think.
Naturally, if you’re using your fireplace, it ensures harmful smoke is released outside, keeping the air inside nice and fresh. But it also does this when the embers are stone cold.
The added ventilation from a chimney breast can reduce the risk of mould and help bad smells and toxins disperse.
If you’ve had UPVC windows installed, there will be less natural ventilation in your home – your chimney will be doing important work when the windows and trickle vents are closed.
It’s not essential to have a chimney, it just helps to delay issues if the ventilation isn’t great.
By far the best thing about a chimney stack is how it looks.
They’re a rare find on newer builds these days, so you can be the envy of your neighbours if they’re not common on your street.
With some nice tiles installed, and by keeping them clean, your roof can look fantastic; a chimney adds to this and helps give your roof great kerb appeal.
But as mentioned earlier, this appeal only works if your chimney has been well looked-after, which is something many people don’t know how to do.
How to Spot if your Chimney is Damaged
A normal brick or stone chimney stack will naturally be caked with dirt, grime, moss, and bird droppings after a few years.
Regular roof cleaning will remove this, but after some heavy wind and rain it’ll soon be back to looking a little worn out.
Just like your roof tiles, dirt can hide damage.
If the bricks or stone is cracked or loose, you will rarely be able to tell from ground level unless you’re a professional roofer.
Some warning signs will appear in your home
If you smell smoke when using your fireplace, or see a haze in the air, there could be a blockage in your chimney.
Similarly, if you notice bits of masonry in the fireplace itself, it’ll have almost certainly come from the stack above, meaning it’s damaged.
Even if you don’t use your fireplace, you should still check if there is anything that warrants calling in the professionals.
The most common damage is not to the chimney itself, but the flashing around it.
This material is what covers gaps between tiles, extensions, chimneys etc., and the roof itself, preventing any rain or other issues from exploiting a weak point.
Over time this flashing can loosen around your chimney, exposing the vulnerable roof below.
This means water, insects, and other pests can gain access, leading to rot, mould, damp, or poor insulation.
If you have your roof checked regularly, this can be avoided, and roof flashing is easy to repair.
When we conduct roof cleaning, we always examine your flashing to see if there is any damage, so this can be sorted out on the spot or at a later date.
When to Remove your Chimney
With older properties, your chimney may eventually reach the end of its life and need removing or replacing.
As tough as they are, their bricks don’t last forever, and repairing them can be expensive.
But there are a number of ways to preserve your chimney longer and delay expensive repairs – and we’re the team to call if this is your goal.
For us, ‘roof cleaning’ means all parts of the roof, not just the tiles; we’ll clean flashing, overhangs, guttering, and, most importantly, your chimney.
After a thorough clean, you’ll be able to see the condition of your chimney more clearly and can take the necessary action to keep it in good shape.
If we notice any damage while we’re up there, we’ll make the repairs ourselves, or if they’re more serious, let you know immediately so you can take the right measures to make it safe again.
If you’re thinking of getting rid of your chimney, consider whether doing this is best for you and your home.
Your chimney is a highlight of your home, regardless of whether you’re still using the fireplace or not.
The Best Solution for your Roof
If you’re worried about the condition of your chimney or any part of your roof, get in touch with Improve A Roof to get it sorted.
We conduct professional roof cleaning that will improve the overall condition and kerb appeal of your home.
If you want to take extra care of your roof, we also offer our bespoke roof treatment.
This will not only make your tiles or flat roof look better than new, it’s also proven to improve insulation, saving you on your energy bills.
To find out more, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!
