Chimney Repairs and Removals in Farnham

It can. Across Farnham the underlying ground is commonly Folkestone Formation greensand with river terrace deposits along the Wey valley, and that has a bearing on foundation depth, on how a new bearing is detailed, and on how close to mature trees a foundation can sensibly go. That is a general description of the area rather than a statement about any particular plot, so where foundations are involved we design against what an investigation on the site actually shows.

Flashing failure is the most common cause. The lead detail where the stack meets the roof covering degrades with age and movement, and a stain that appears specifically after wind driven rain from one direction usually points to it rather than to the brickwork.

It depends on whether the job is repointing, flashing, a partial removal or a rebuild, and on access and scaffolding. We give a written figure after inspecting the stack.

Terraced and semi detached property is common right through the older centre, so party wall notices are part of most projects rather than an exception. If the property is semi detached or terraced, or if the foundations for any new element sit close to a boundary, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is likely to apply and notice has to be served before work starts. We can confirm the position once we have seen the property, and serve the notices as part of the same project rather than leaving you to arrange it separately.

Farnham falls under Waverley Borough Council. It is the local planning authority, with Surrey County Council above it for highways matters such as skip permits and any scaffold that reaches the pavement. That matters because a set of calculations and drawings has to be submitted to the authority that actually covers the address, and on this patch the boundaries run close together, so neighbouring towns can sit with entirely different councils.

Yes. Farnham has one of the largest conservation areas in Surrey, covering most of the historic town centre, and a number of the Georgian frontages are listed in their own right. Where any of that applies to a property, permitted development cannot be assumed, and on a listed building even internal alterations can need consent. We establish which of these apply to your address at the start, because it can change the structural solution as well as the paperwork.

It varies with exposure and the original mortar mix. Many stacks need attention to at least some joints every fifteen to twenty five years, and an exposed stack on a high or open site will need it sooner.

Yes. Alongside Farnham we regularly work in Aldershot, Farnborough and Fleet, and across the wider Surrey border area from our office in Fleet. Bear in mind that some of those neighbouring towns sit under a different council to Farnham, so the planning and building control route can change from one to the next even over a short distance.

Yes. Farnham is fully within our normal working area for chimney repairs and removals, from Castle Street, Gostrey Meadow, the Bourne and Upper Hale through to the surrounding streets. Castle Street and the streets running off it are narrow and often restricted for loading, so on town centre projects the practical questions about skip permits, scaffold licences and delivery windows come up early rather than at the last minute.

Generally yes, but it should be capped in a way that still allows the flue to ventilate. A completely sealed flue traps moisture, which then shows up as damp on the breast inside the property.