Case Study: Railway Village Chimney Swindon

Case Study: Railway Village Chimney

A listed 1850s terrace on Exeter Street in the Railway Village with a substantial four-flue chimney stack. Lime mortar pointing had weathered out on the north and west faces, allowing water to penetrate the chimney breast and cause persistent damp on the first floor bedroom wall.

The Problem

The original lime mortar had eroded to a depth of 20-30mm on the weather-facing sides. Wind-driven rain was entering the exposed joints and running down the internal brickwork, emerging as a persistent damp patch on the bedroom chimney breast. The lead step flashings on the west face had also fatigued and cracked at two fold lines, providing a secondary water entry route. The east and south faces were in better condition but showing early signs of the same erosion.

The Specification

Scaffold to chimney stack height. Rake out old mortar to 20mm minimum depth on all four faces using hand tools — never angle grinders on listed masonry. Dampen joints. Repoint in NHL 3.5 hydraulic lime mortar mixed with local sharp sand to match the warm buff colour of the original pointing. Tool to a slightly recessed joint profile matching the original. Re-dress the two cracked lead step flashings on the west face using code 4 milled lead, pointed into existing chase cuts with flexible Geocel sealant. All work documented with photographs for the property's listed building maintenance record.

The Timeline

Day 1: Scaffold erected. All four faces raked out to depth. Day 2: Repointing of north and west faces (the most deteriorated). Lead flashings re-dressed. Day 3: Repointing of east and south faces. Final inspection and cleanup. Scaffold down.

The Cost

Total: £650 including scaffold, lime mortar materials, lead flashing work and all labour. The conservation officer was notified and inspected the completed work — approved without reservation.

The Result

The bedroom damp patch dried completely within six weeks of the repair. The lime mortar is colour-matched to the original and the pointing style is indistinguishable from the 170-year-old work on the adjacent properties. NHL lime mortar will flex with the building's thermal movement rather than cracking, giving an expected lifespan of 40-50 years before the next repoint is needed.

What This Case Study Shows

Every roofing job is different. The property type, the housing era, the specific failure pattern, the exposure conditions and the homeowner's priorities all affect the specification and the cost. That is why we provide free, no-obligation surveys and detailed written quotes for every job. A case study like this one shows our process in action — the diagnosis, the specification decision-making, the execution and the result. If you recognise a similar problem on your own property, call 0179 329 7084 for a free assessment. We will tell you honestly what your roof needs, what it will cost, and how long it will take. No pressure, no salespeople, just straightforward advice from the people who will actually do the work.

Why Choose Us

We are NFRC registered, carry five million pounds of public liability insurance, and provide a written 10-year workmanship guarantee on every job. We have been serving Swindon and surrounding Wiltshire since 2003. Our business is built entirely on honest work and word-of-mouth recommendation. We do not advertise, we do not cold-call, and we do not employ salespeople. Every customer comes to us through recommendation or by finding us online — and we keep them by doing excellent work at fair prices. That is a business model we are proud of and one that benefits every homeowner who works with us.

Comprehensive Coverage Across Swindon

We cover every postcode and neighbourhood across Swindon and a 15-mile radius. From the 1840s Railway Village to the 2020s Wichelstowe development, from hilltop Highworth to floodplain Cricklade, from the wind-exposed western estates at Shaw and Toothill to the sheltered inner suburbs at Covingham and Eldene. We carry the twelve most common tile profiles on every van, maintain relationships with specialist suppliers for reclaimed Welsh slate, Cotswold limestone tiles and traditional materials, and switch between modern specifications and period-appropriate techniques daily. Whether your property needs a single tile replacement, a full re-roof, a flat roof conversion, or specialist chimney work, we have the expertise, the materials and the local knowledge to do the job right first time.

What Makes a Good Roofer

A good roofer surveys from the roof, not from the ground. Photographs everything and explains what they find in plain language. Provides a detailed written specification, not just a price. Uses the correct materials for the property type and local conditions. Specifies stainless steel fixings as standard rather than the galvanised nails that caused Swindon's nail sickness crisis. Includes scaffold and waste removal in the quote. Offers a meaningful written guarantee backed by trade body membership and adequate insurance. Turns up when they say they will, does what they quoted, cleans up after themselves and stands behind the work for years afterward. This is the standard we maintain on every job and the standard you should expect from any roofer you hire.

Our Commitment to Swindon

Twenty years of continuous service to Swindon homeowners means something. It means we have fixed roofs on every type of property in every neighbourhood. It means we have seen every roofing problem this town can produce — from the nail sickness crisis on the post-war estates to the listed building conservation work in Old Town and the Railway Village. It means we know which materials last in Swindon's exposed conditions and which fail prematurely. It means we have relationships with suppliers who can source reclaimed Welsh slate, period clay tiles and specialist materials within days. It means we have a reputation built entirely on doing good work at fair prices — no advertising, no cold calling, just honest workmanship that speaks for itself. And it means we will still be here next year, and the year after, and for the full ten years of your guarantee. That is the difference between a local roofer and a name you found on a lead generation website. Call 0179 329 7084 and experience the difference.