Today’s job takes us up to a roof top in my home village of Bilsthorpe in Nottinghamshire for a full chimney liner installation, new chimney pot and cowl. I teamed up with a local stove fitter to tackle a shared chimney that had been capped off—meaning we needed to carefully expose the correct flue, install the liner, and finish everything neatly and securely, without disturbing neighbouring flues.

Here’s a full breakdown of how we completed the job safely, efficiently, and with long-term performance in mind.

Step 1: Safe Access with the Cherry Picker

As always, my cherry picker made this chimney top job far more manageable. No awkward ladder climbs or rope-hauling tools, just smooth access with everything I need in the basket: concrete saw, hammer, bolster, rubble bucket, pot, cowl, and more.

Jobs like this really highlight the value of high access equipment, especially on shared chimneys and terraced roofs with limited ladder space.

Step 2: Exposing the Right Flue

The chimney had three flues, so I had to identify and open the one connected to the client’s living room stove. Using a petrol-powered concrete saw, I cut a precise section into the flaunching, aiming to avoid over-cutting or unnecessary damage.

Once the section was removed, I chipped away carefully with my hammer to expose the flue. A quick shout to the stove fitter below confirmed we had the right one, spot on.

Step 3: Preparing the Chimney Liner

With the flue ready, I went back down to prep the flexible chimney liner. These liners are usually wrapped in plastic and bubble wrap for protection. I stripped most of it off, but left one layer to help keep it coiled, this makes it much easier to manage in the cherry picker and during installation.

We also attached a guide cone and rope to the end to help the liner negotiate a tight bend near the base of the chimney. Communication at this stage is key, and believe it or not, you can actually talk clearly through the liner itself like a giant metal telephone!

Step 4: Feeding the Liner Down the Chimney

With careful teamwork, we fed the liner down the chimney. If it caught on anything, I gave it a twist to help it past any obstructions. The rope helped guide it round bends, and I made sure to install the liner the right way up, very important for longevity and corrosion resistance.

Once it was in place, the stove fitter secured it at the register plate below.

Step 5: Removing an Old TV Aerial

While I was up there, the customer asked if I could remove an old TV aerial that was no longer in use. No problem, quick cut with the grinder and down it came. Always happy to help tidy things up while I’m already on the roof.

Step 6: Mixing Concrete for the Chimney Pot

Back on the ground, I fired up my generator-powered paddle mixer to prepare the bedding concrete. I always start with water, then a splash of SPR Bond (my go-to bonding agent—see my deep-dive video for more info), followed by a strong 3:1 mix of sharp sand to cement.

This setup saves tons of time and energy compared to mixing by hand and gives a really consistent, workable mix.

Step 7: Bedding the Pot and Installing the Cowl

With the mix ready, I headed back up with the chimney pot, cowl, slates, and tools. I primed the chimney top using a 1:1 SPR Bond and water mix, then used roofing slates to bridge the oversized flue opening and create a stable base.

I adjusted the slates as needed to get the pot sitting level, then packed the concrete around it, shaping the flaunching to slope outward. This is vital for shedding rainwater and preventing future water ingress.

Step 8: Final Fixings and Finishing Touches

With the pot secured, I trimmed the liner so it sat about 10mm below the pot rim. Normally, you’d pull the liner up and fit the cowl from below, but this liner was wedged in tightly, so we seated the cowl directly on top and secured it with a Jubilee clip, bent up the metal tags to stop rattling, and trimmed the clip tail for a tidy finish.

One final inspection of the pot, flaunching, and cowl, and the job was done to a high standard.

🎥 Want to See It All in Action?

You can watch the full video of this chimney liner and pot installation on my YouTube channel. It shows everything step by step, from the first cut in the concrete to fitting the cowl, with commentary and tips you can only get from up close on the roof.

👉 Watch it here on YouTube

Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe if you find it helpful. I read every comment and appreciate all the feedback!

Recap: What We Did 

• ✔️ Exposed a capped-off flue 
• ✔️ Installed a flexible chimney liner 
• ✔️ Removed an old TV aerial 
• ✔️ Mixed and applied a concrete flaunch with SPR Bond 
• ✔️ Fitted a new chimney pot 
• ✔️ Installed and secured a cowl

Why This Matters

Chimney liners are critical for safe and efficient stove installations. Without them, gases and heat can leak into surrounding masonr. Correct flaunching and cowl installation protect the chimney structure and improve stove performance.

If you’re based in Nottinghamshire, Newark, Mansfield, or the wider East Midlands, and need help with chimney repair, liner installation, or high-level access roofing work, I’m here to help.

📍 DJI High Access Services Ltd 

Specialists in rooftop and chimney work, safely accessed with our own cherry picker.

Let me know what you think in the comments below or reach out directly if you’d like a quote.

Watch The Full