Chimney stack repair and gable end repointing

shar46y

We've just got a quote for repairing 3 chimney stacks and repointing the gable end - includes replacing perhaps 40+ weathered (spalled) bricks and installing, if needed, chimney vents (all chimneys are capped and there are no internal vents). This is for a 3-storey Victorian house.

It is £4200, of which £1200 is for the scaffolding :eek: not including VAT.

I've tried looking online, but prices seem all over the place. Instead it's just got me worried that I forgot to ask the builder about stuff like matching bricks and strength of mortar.

I apologise for not having more details to hand. OH got the quote and just texted me with minimal details - possible he fainted dead away I can post more info when I get home and read the whole thing myself... just really keen to get any responses so I couldn't resist asking straightaway!

shar46y

It turns out the quote was not very detailed and says pretty much what I wrote in the OP ('as discussed' etc).

Thoughts still very welcome though! (Or any local recommendations pretty please!)

Plasterer

Sorry dont know much about bricklaying prices (plasterer) however when it comes to strengh of mortar get your builder to point the stack with lime rather than portland cement - it will stop spalling im the future as it is softer than the bricks themselves. £4200 does dound a lot though unless they are mahoosive!

ormus

it does seem a lot,
however without a lot more detail, (seeing the job), its hard to be more constructive.

Plasterer

Look on the bright side of things though - a job I was on last year in a posh old hotel - rather large chimney stack needed taking down and rebuilt. The whole job was estimated at £125,000

shar46y

ormus wrote: »

it does seem a lot,
however without a lot more detail, (seeing the job), its hard to be more constructive.

Yes, sorry, it's not the most useful quote is it? Builder took lots of measurements for pricing it up, but did not include them in the quote.

It is a tall house (3 storeys) and there are 3 large chimney stacks (2 on the gable end and 1 at the rear) so I imagine it's a lot of scaffolding. He thought it might take up to 3 weeks.

I wondered if he's trying to price himself out - they seem to have plenty of work (they are doing a house nearby and are doing an absolutely tip-top job which is why I chose them first).

I have now contacted a couple more people to come and quote.

shar46y

Resurrecting this old thread, as we have had another quote now which is more detailed.

Front Chimney
Erect scaffold.
Remove existing slabs/flaunching chimney pot. Stack chimney pot for re-use.
Grind/rake joints out in chimney breast and clean.
Repoint chimney breast to level of pitched roof in sand cement.
Supply and install 1no. new pot to match existing, bed in sand cement and flaunch top in sand cement.
Remove/re-bed any loose bricks when works are carried out.

£1250

Side Chimney
Erect scaffold.
Remove existing slabs and dispose from site.
Grind/rake joints of in chimney breast and clean.
Repoint chimney breast to level of pitched roof, using sand cement to repoint joints.
Supply and install 2no. pots to match existing, bed in sand cement and flinch top in sand cement.
Remove/re-bed any loose bricks when works are carried out.

£1330

Rear Chimney
Erect scaffold.
Remove existing slabs and dispose from site.
Grind/rake out joints in chimney breast and clean. This chimney is connected to the neighbouring house - costing only for this address.
Supply and install 2no. pots to match existing, bed in sand cement and flinch top in sand cement.
Remove/re-bed loose bricks when works are carried out.

On completion of works remove all rubbish leaving site clean and tidy.

£1400

NB
When scaffolding is erected we advise inspection of chimney bricks works before work is carried out, as existing bricks look pitted and porous and it may not be possible to complete the works.

I make that total £3980 + VAT :eek: so not really cheaper than the previous quote - and sounds like they can't replace the bricks (?).

There is also a further note about extra costing for pepper pots to be installed - what are these or is it a typo?

Also is there a reason why the cost increases per chimney from the front of the house to the back?

shar46y

Ah well, I think we are going to ask for only the 2 main chimneys to be done (and not the rear one which is joined to the neighbouring house - it's also the least weathered). Have rung the guy to ask about the bricks, waiting for callback.