How Much Does it Cost to Reset Chimney Pots?

Job	Description (all these prices include mortar and tipping charges)	Labour
1	To reset the pots on any eaves, gable or ridge chimney will take 1 man a half day.	£125
	Plus scaffolding for an eaves or gable chimney	£400
	Plus scaffolding for a ridge chimney	£1000
2	To return when the scaffolding has gone and replace broken tiles/slates.	£50-£200

“Labour” at £175 a day (tradesman) £100 (labourer), includes incidental fixings etc. and tipping charges. “Materials” if mentioned, are larger things (a boiler) and stuff only you can choose (tiles etc). Also VAT must be added all round.

Information on Chimney Pots

Pots are the “Last Man Standing” in the (now largely defunct) process of getting smoke and fumes out of your home. They constrict the flue, and if you are into aerodynamics, moving air (the smoke) when constricted, moves faster. This acceleration, is further increased by the wind action immediately above the pot which creates a localised area of low pressure. All this serious science then conspires to positively blast the smoke out of the flue… to add even more to the problem of global warming.

Anyway that’s not our problem, our kids can sort that one out!

So, if you have a fire, you need chimney pots. If you don’t, chimney stacks look better with pots on anyway, so you still need chimney pots. In other words if it ain't broke don’t fix it and only if they are seriously wonky should you consider having them re set.

The job is virtually the same as chimney pointing in that scaffolding should be used. Our prices assume there are no conservatories, or other impediments to scaffolding erection and that no tiles/slates are broken during the process.

Nonsense…scaffolders can break tiles just by getting out of their wagon!

If you are intent on completely removing them, what about their design? Fancy ones are worth a bit you know, make sure he doesn’t scarper with them. Also prepare for them to break when moved. If they do, they can be replaced with new or second-hand ones but how fancy will those be?

The pots are kept in place with lots of mortar, this is called flaunching. Get him to waterproof this, when he re sets them, it will cost a fraction more but the rain wont penetrate and that is a “good thing”.

Finally make sure he temporarily “blocks up” each hearth served by the chimney. Otherwise when the pots or the old flaunching is removed lots of soot and “bits” will come rattling down, ricochet into the room and give the lady of the house an apoplectic fit.

If a brick comes down it will kill the cat!