Project Overview
We were contacted to inspect and repair a failing chimney on a pre-war family home in Oxford. The chimney had developed serious structural issues, posing both safety risks and potential damage to the roof and interior. Our brief was to dismantle the unstable chimney and rebuild it to the highest standards while perfectly matching its symmetrical counterpart on the other side of the house.
Masonry Restoration
The existing chimney was showing significant cracking and mortar failure. Because the property had two prominent chimneys, any rebuild needed to be visually identical to the remaining original chimney in height, profile, brickwork detailing, and overall appearance. As a pre-war building, the work required careful use of matching materials and traditional methods to maintain the historic character.
Our Solution
We carried out a complete, sympathetic rebuild:
• Careful Dismantling: The chimney was safely dismantled brick by brick, with reclaimed bricks carefully salvaged where possible.
• Reclaimed Bricks: We sourced high-quality period-correct reclaimed bricks to match the colour, texture, and size of the original chimney and its pair.
• Traditional Lime Mortar: All brickwork was laid using a breathable, heritage-appropriate lime mortar mix, ensuring compatibility with the existing building fabric.
• Symmetrical Matching: The new chimney was built to exactly replicate the dimensions, bonding pattern, and detailing of the matching chimney on the opposite side of the roof.
• Modern Protection: We finished the rebuild with a durable, waterproof flaunching at the top — providing excellent long-term weather protection while remaining invisible from ground level.
All works were completed with full consideration for the property’s age and in accordance with local authority requirements.
Project Outcome
The rebuilt chimney now stands strong, safe, and visually indistinguishable from its original partner. It has become a striking architectural feature — proudly taking centre stage as you enter the property.
Client Testimonial
“We are absolutely thrilled with the result. The new chimney is a real statement piece as soon as you enter the property. We’ve even started calling it ‘Darren’s Chimney’! The attention to detail and the way it perfectly matches the other side is outstanding. We couldn’t be prouder.”