Melton Mowbary (Leicestershire): Repointing, Re-Flaunching & Bird-Proofing a Chimney

On the list:

Grind out and repoint the brickwork .

Remove loose/failed flaunching and re-flaunch the stack .

Take down an old aerial .

Fit cowls to three disused pots (goodbye, pigeons) .

Leave everything neat, sealed, and shedding water the right way

Spider’s set up—let’s crack on.

Step 1 - Grind out the chimneys mortar joints (properly)

Repointing only lasts if the prep’s done right. I grind to at least 20mm depth so the new mortar has something to bind on, no thin, dusty smears that crack and fall out.

To keep mess sensible on a live property, I use a Metabo grinder with a dust-guard linked to a VacMaster. It’s not perfect (nothing is with grinding), so I always wear a respirator and goggles. Once cut out, I run a battery blower along every joint to clear dust and remaining debris, to give the new mortar a better chance to key into the brickwork.

Step 2 - Strip back the failed flaunching

While I’m up there with an empty basket it’s daft to come down, empty handed, so I carefully chisel off anything loose, cracked, or wafer-thin concrete flaunch, from the top of the chimney. I don’t need to chase every molecule, what I do need is a sound, clean brick perimeter to seal onto and no weak material left under the new concrete flauncing.

Step 3: Mix for speed (and sanity)

Hand-mixing? Not today. I use a paddle mixer and a big tub-

Water first + a dash of plasticiser
5-in-1 mortar for the pointing (smooth, creamy, gun-friendly mix)

I load a Faithfull mortar gun so that i can inject mortar right to the back of the joint, quickly. People love to hate these guns, nine times out of ten it’s the mix that’s wrong. Get the mortar consistency right and they’re quick and consistent, maybe a bit messier than hawk-and-trowel, but you win the time back easily.

I mist the brickwork with a fine spray of water, gun one face, move to the next, then strike off the first with a pointing tool. When it’s firm to the touch, I finish with a soft brush, this leaves a tidy, slightly weathered face that matches older work nicely.

Step 4 - The flaunching mix (strong, bonded, and shaped to shed)

Flaunching isn’t pointing, it needs strength and water resistance:

3:1 sharp sand : cement (sharp, not building, for a tougher finish)
SBR in the mix for flexibility and water resistance
Before laying, I paint the top course and any sound old flaunch with SBR:water 1:1 as a bond coat

Then I lay the new flaunch high in the middle, falling to the edges so water has no excuse to sit. Smooth, firm, and tidy around the pots.

Step 5: Cap the pots (and stop the wildlife parade)

These three flues are disused, so I fit bird-guard cowls. That stops rain and birds getting down, which in turn stops damp tracking through the chimney breast.

Tenants happy; no more flapping in the fireplace.

I also removed the redundant aerial while I was there, less clutter, fewer snag points, cleaner roofline.

Result

Chimney repointed: deep, compact joints that will last
New flaunch: bonded, shaped, and shedding water properly
Cowls fitted: no more birds or rain down dead flues
Old aerial removed
Everything cleaned down and left neat

This stack should be sound for years.

If you found this useful why not watch all the action unfold on youtube hit like and subscribe for more chimney, roofing, and cherry-picker jobs.

Got a leaky stack or birds in the flue around Leicestershire/Notts/Derbyshire? Get in touch, I’ll see you on the next job.

Useful Links -

Get your hands on any of the tools i use for re-pointing brickwork - My amazon pointing and mixing list.

Watch the full video on YouTube - Chimney Repair in Leicester | Repointing, Flaunching & Bird-Proofing with Cowls

About DJI High Access Services Ltd

At DJI High Access Services Ltd, we specialise in high-access maintenance, from roofing and chimney work to specialist gutter repairs like this. Using our own tracked spider cherry picker, we can work safely and efficiently at height while minimising disruption.

If you need expert gutter cleaning, sealing, or repairs, get in touch today: 🌐 www.dji-uk.co.uk

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